Montenegro is the smallest Balkan nation in population and second smallest in land mass.[1] The land mass is 13,812 square kilometres with 360 square kilometres of water.[2]Montenegro's geography ranges from mountainous forested regions in the north where larger mammals are most common.[3]Mediterranean coastline makes up the south end of the country, forested area makes up 40.4% of the nation's landmass.[4] The most densely populated area of the country is the south coast and the most sparsely populated is the north east section of the country.[5] The fauna of Montenegro is predominantly shared with surrounding Balkan nations.
Specific data on fauna in the region is difficult to locate due to the large concentration in mountainous and unpopulated areas. The nature of Montenegro also has an influence on the lack of data with nation becoming independent as recently as 2006.[6] after a decision to leave the federation with Serbia that retained the title of Yugoslavia.[7] As a new nation there was a lack of governing infrastructure, and this, along with a GDP per capita of $7,320 makes it one of Europe's poorer nations.[8] There are resource limitations to devote to conservation and an existing census of land animals.[9]
Mammals
European brown bear
Within Montenegro, the largest concentration of large animals can be found within the north of the country.[10] These higher numbers can be attributed to the areas being mountainous and containing a virgin forest. Brown bears can be found within this area of Montenegro, living within Biogradska Gora national park.[11] There are estimated to be less than 130 individuals living in the wild.[12] These bears are known to reach a weight of up to 200kg and generally remain docile except for mating season.[13]
Other carnivores such as wolves and Balkan lynxes live in the virgin forest as well, remaining distant from urban areas, this excludes occasional issues occurring from wolves hunting livestock.[14] The Balkan Lynx along with other European species of lynx, remains critically endangered and there have been efforts from environmental organisations to increase protection and prevent extinction of the species.[15] The Balkan lynx has an estimated population of between 40 and 70 individuals in the wild. It can be found in neighbouring countries such as Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania.[16] Its existence is under severe threat and only outside agencies such as the United Nations have been able to allocate some resources to saving the animal from likely extinction.
Among these larger carnivores is the golden jackal, wild dogs that retain a more slender build and lighter coat than wolves.[17] The population of golden jackals have been reported as stable and increasing in Eastern Europe as there were previous fears about the species reaching extinction.[18] Montenegro has two predominant species of deer, these are the red deer and the roe deer.[19] Alongside these fauna in the mountains is the Balkan Chamois, a small mountain goat native to the Balkan mountain regions, which can be found in most mountainous areas of Montenegro.[20] In more southern regions of the country smaller carnivores such as otters can be found. Otters are predominantly concentrated around Lake Skadar.[21] 38.12% of Montenegro is made up of agricultural land.[22] resulting in a range of domesticated mammals populating the country, these domesticated animals include large numbers of rabbits and livestock.[23]
Reptiles/Amphibians
Nose-horned viper
Reptiles and amphibians make up an estimated 56 different species within Montenegro.[24] Many of these are sub species of more common fauna such as the green frog and the crested newt.[25] Some amphibians endemic to Montenegro have been known to undergo neoteny, such as the olm, a small amphibian existing within mountain cave systems of the Dinaric Alps.[26]Caves and sinkholes are common within the region resulting in a variety of endemic fauna designed to live in these conditions.[27] Around Lovćen exist common amphibians such as the Italian crested newt, blue lizard and several species of viper snakes.[28] The Durmitor National Park is home to the Musor rock lizard and the sharp snouted lizard. Both species are native to Montenegro.[29]
Another creature native to the region is the slow worm, this creature is commonly mistaken for a snake due to its physical attributes, but it is instead a harmless species of lizard.[30] Montenegro is also home to a range of snakes such as the Balkan whip snake which remains harmless to humans,[31] and the nose horned viper which is considered the most venomous snake in Europe. This snake has two distinctive horns above its head and exists predominantly in rocky areas through Southern Europe and the Middle East.[citation needed]
Birds
Montenegro experiences wide varieties of birds due to its position along the Adriatic flyway. There are 352 species of birds found within the region.[32] Specific information on these species can be found under Birds of Montenegro. There is limited data on the most common species of bird in Montenegro due to the fluctuating population caused by the Adriatic flyway.[33] Bird populations have been threatened by hunting within the region.[34] Many of the bird species along the Adriatic flyway rely on the marine biodiversity within Montenegro as a food source.
Marine animals
Adriatic Sea
Montenegro's geography consists of 293.5km of coastline along with several large lakes.[35] Montenegro's ocean zone reaches 22 kilometres off their coast reaching depths of over a kilometre.[36] Within this area along the coastline of Montenegro are two kinds of dolphins, the striped dolphin and the bottle nose dolphin.[37] The coastline does remain predominantly unexplored and there is limited data to suggest the exact number of marine animals in the Adriatic Sea with many species still being discovered.[38] Between 2010 and 2014 twelve new fish species were recorded in the Adriatic Sea increasing the total number of known species to 452.[39] Alongside this is three known species of sea turtles and four species of dolphin in the Montenegrin sector of the Adriatic Sea.[40] The Bojana Estuary on the border of Montenegro and Albania produces a range of molluscs and other economically important species for the domestic fishing industry.[41]
The more distinct Montenegrin fauna, is located in the subterranean climates that experience high levels of moisture and water flow.[42] This includes gastropod fauna such as sea snails.[43] These snails and other molluscs have been located in the springs bordering Lake Skadar.[44]
History
An excavation conducted between 2010 and 2014 in Northern Montenegro led to the discovery and analysis of animal species in the Pleistocene era.[45] This era lasted from 2 588 000 BC till 11700 BC.[46] Fossils were found in Northern Montenegro belonging to forest elephants and Stephanorhinus, descendants of elephants and rhinoceros.[47] Further fossil data revealed fossils from families Hyaenidae and Felidae, the former being remnants of a large hyena and second being evidence of a sabre toothed cat.[48] The excavation revealed data suggesting the presence of large fauna throughout Montenegro and the remainder of Eurasia throughout the course of the Pleistocene era.
Threats to ecosystem
There are a range of factors that pose a risk to the degradation of the Montenegrin ecosystem.[49] The coastal regions are threatened by the release of polluted water into the ocean as well as the discharge from boats in regions with high levels of tourism.[50] A significant threat to wetland and water systems are the growth of algae in the water as a result of human settlement.[51] Hunting associations pose a threat to some of the larger species of mammals.[52] Due to the limited resources of the government, data surrounding larger mammals originates from these hunting societies.[53] Other threats posed to the ecosystem of Montenegro include unregulated logging within forested areas.[54] This is alongside the introduction of foreign species for commercial use.[55] There are difficulties to resolving these issues such as a lack of organisation and financial resources from government entities within Montenegro.[56] Another barrier is the lack of public awareness for the ramifications of environmental degradation.[57]
Montenegro has recently made efforts to renewable energy with 13 privately owned hydro plants currently functioning within the country.[58] These plants have contributed to rivers and springs drying up, posing a risk to the amphibian population and marine biodiversity.[59] There have been efforts from activists to prevent the construction of more hydro plants as a means of protecting the marine ecosystem.[60] Forestry became more common during World War II resulting in the degradation of large quantities of forestry.[61]
Mratinje Dam
Conservation
While population data on the majority of Montenegro mammals remains ambiguous, conservation projects have taken place with the purpose of protecting the brown bear and Balkan lynx population within the region. In March 2019, the council for the management of the bear and wolf population was founded.[62] This council works under European Union standards and aims to provide a more consistent data analysis of the bear and wolf population within Montenegro followed by intervention to reduce the pressure on these animals and their natural habitat.[63] European Bear populations in the Dinaric-Pindos were reported as stable and increasing between 2012 and 2016.[64]
Alongside this council exists efforts from the United Nations to protect the Balkan lynx population, this project is based in North Macedonia and seeks to reduce poaching of these lynxes throughout the Balkans.[65] These conservation initiatives are part of a movement from the Montenegro government to increase awareness for their national fauna, with the council for the management of bear and wolf population serving as a condition of Montenegro's entry into the European Union.[66] The Balkan Lynx population was recorded as stable between 2012 and 2016.[67] There is increasing pressure on the government of Montenegro to conserve these larger mammals due to their extinction in other areas of Europe.[68] This has occurred in southern regions of Spain where wolves have become extinct and the Iberian Lynx remains critically endangered.[69]
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has a branch in Adria aimed at protecting the marine biodiversity in the Adriatic Sea.[70] WWF Adria works with governments, NGOs and fishermen within the region to establish sustainable ideas for long term protection of the flora and fauna in the Adriatic Sea.[71] Subsequently, they aim to retain the health of rivers and waterbeds throughout inland Eastern Europe to prevent agricultural degradation as well as protect the wildlife that rely on these water sources.[72] They currently carry out activism projects against the construction of further dams and hydro plants along the Morača River in Montenegro.[73] WWF Adria also aims to increase the efficiency of government regulations on protected environmental areas as well as raising awareness for the protection of national parks and other areas of wide biodiversity.[74]
Dulčić J and Lipej L (2015). The current status of the Adriatic sea fish biodiversity. Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XV European Congress of Ichthyology. doi:10.3389/conf.fmars.2015.03.00073
Gastropoda, Moitessieriidae, and Hydrobiidae). Ecologica Montenegrina. 20. 71–90. 10.37828/em.2019.20.6.
Grego, Jozef & Glöer, Peter & Falniowski, Andrzej & Hofman, Sebastian & Osikowski, Artur. (2019). New subterranean freshwater gastropod species from Montenegro (Mollusca,
Vislobokova, I., and A. Agadjanian. "New Data on Large Mammals of the Pleistocene Trlica Fauna, Montenegro, the Central Balkans." Paleontological Journal 49.6 (2015): 651–667.
Albania is a country in Southeastern Europe that lies along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, with a coastline spanning approximately 476 km (296 mi). Situated on the Balkan Peninsula, it is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. It is bounded by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east and Greece to the southeast and south.
The Eurasian lynx is one of the four extant species within the medium-sized wild cat genus Lynx. It is widely distributed from Northern, Central and Eastern Europe to Central Asia and Siberia, the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas. It inhabits temperate and boreal forests up to an elevation of 5,500 m (18,000 ft). Despite its wide distribution, it is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching and depletion of prey.
The Dinaric Alps, also Dinarides, are a mountain range in Southern and Southcentral Europe, separating the continental Balkan Peninsula from the Adriatic Sea. They stretch from Italy in the northwest through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo to Albania in the southeast.
The chamois or Alpine chamois is a species of goat-antelope native to mountains in Europe, from west to east, including the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Apennines, the Dinarides, the Tatra and the Carpathian Mountains, the Balkan Mountains, the Rila–Rhodope massif, Pindus, the northeastern mountains of Turkey, and the Caucasus. The chamois has also been introduced to the South Island of New Zealand. Some subspecies of chamois are strictly protected in the EU under the European Habitats Directive.
The Neretva, also known as Narenta, is one of the largest rivers of the eastern part of the Adriatic basin. Four hydroelectric power plants with large dams provide flood protection, power and water storage. It is recognized for its natural environment and diverse landscapes.
Dinara is a 100-kilometre-long (60-mile) mountain range in the Dinaric Alps, located on the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. It has four major mountains or peaks, from north-west to south-east:
The Albanian water frog is a species of true frog and is native to Albania and Montenegro. As its common name suggests, it prefers aquatic environments. The Albanian water frog is an endangered species and known populations are currently in decline. Significant threats to its habitat are presented by pollution and by drainage of wetlands, and a more direct threat is the aggressive collection of the species for commercial purposes.
Kosovo is a small and landlocked country in Southeastern Europe. The country is strategically positioned in the center of the Balkan Peninsula enclosed by Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the north and east, North Macedonia to the southeast, and Albania to the southwest. It has no direct access to the Mediterranean Sea but its rivers flow into three seas, the Adriatic, Aegean and Black Sea.
Lurë-Dejë Mountain National Park is a national park in northeastern Albania, spanning an expanded area of 202.42 km2 (78.15 sq mi) since 2018 by encompassing the entire section of Kunora e Lurës, former Zall-Gjocaj National Park, and Dejë Mountain. The park was originally established in 1966 to protect the various ecosystems and biodiversity as Lura National Park. The altitude vary from 1,500–2,300 m (4,921–7,546 ft). The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the park as Category II. Nevertheless, it is described as an important Bird and Plant Area, because it supports significant bird and plant species.
The Balkan lynx is a subspecies of the Eurasian lynx in the genus Lynx. It is found in Albania, Kosovo and western North Macedonia, with smaller populations in Montenegro. It is considered a national symbol in North Macedonia and appears on the 5-denar coin.
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto to the northwest and the Po Valley. The countries with coasts on the Adriatic are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, and Slovenia.
Pindus National Park, also known as Valia Calda, is a national park in mainland Greece, situated in an isolated mountainous area at the periphery of West Macedonia and Epirus, in the northeastern part of the Pindus mountain range. It was established in 1966 and covers an area of 6,927 hectares. The park's core zone, 3,360 hectares, covers the greatest part of the Valia Calda valley and the slopes of the surrounding peaks.
The fauna of Italy comprises all the animal species inhabiting the territory of the Italian Republic and its surrounding waters. Italy has probably the highest level of faunal biodiversity in Europe, with over 57,000 species recorded, representing more than a third of all European fauna. This is due to various factors. The Italian peninsula is in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, forming a corridor between central Europe and North Africa, and it has 8,000 km (5,000 mi) of coastline. Italy also receives species from the Balkans, Eurasia, and the Middle East. Italy's varied geological structure, including the Alps and the Apennines, Central Italian woodlands, and Southern Italian Garigue and Maquis shrubland, also contribute to high climate and habitat diversity.
Shebenik National Park is a national park in eastern Albania adjacent to the border with North Macedonia. It encompasses 34,507.9 hectares (345.079 km2) and is specifically marked by a mountainous landscape supplied with glacial lakes, valleys, dense coniferous and deciduous forests and alpine meadows and pastures. Elevations in the park vary from 300 metres to over 2,200 metres above the Adriatic at the peak of Shebenik and Jabllanica, hence the name. It dwells a number of endangered species that are fast becoming rare in Southern Europe, including the brown bear, gray wolf and balkan lynx. The abundance in wildlife can in part be explained by the variety of vegetation types and remote location.
The Valbona Valley National Park was a national park inside the Albanian Alps in northern Albania. In 2022, the park was amalgamated to form the Alps of Albania National Park. The park covers a total area of 80 km2 (31 sq mi), encompassing Valbona River and its surrounding areas with mountainous terrain, alpine landscapes, glacial springs, deep depressions, various rock formations, waterfalls and the Valbona Valley with its dense coniferous and deciduous forest. It is characterized by its very remote areas which have a large preserved ecosystem all of which is primarily untouched with pristine quality. This vast pristine ecosystem is the centrepiece of what has been referred to as the Albanian Miracle of the Alps.
The Buila-Vânturarița National Park is a protected area situated in Romania, in the central-northern part of Vâlcea County, in the administrative territory of the localities Costești, Bărbătești, and Băile Olănești.
For a small country, Albania is characterised by a considerable wealth of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and habitats with contrasting floral, faunal, and fungal species, defined in an area of 28,748 square kilometres. Most of the country is predominantly of Mediterranean character, comprehending the country's center and south, while the alpine affinity is more visible in the northeast.
Kosovo is characterised by a diverse biodiversity and an abundance of different ecosystems and habitats determined by the climate along with the geology and hydrology. Predominantly mountainous, it is located at the center of the Balkan Peninsula bounded by Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the north and east, North Macedonia to the southeast, and Albania to the southwest.
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Over 22,500 species of wildlife have been recorded in North Macedonia. Over 10,000 of these are insects, which include 3,000 beetle species and large numbers of Lepidoptera, flies, and Hymenoptera. Aside from insects, other large arthropod groups include Chelicerata and crustaceans. Among vertebrates, more than 300 species of birds recorded, although not all nest in the country. There are over 80 species of both fish and mammals, 32 reptiles, and 14 amphibians.
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