The Animal World of Pohorje

Have you already met the inhabitants of green Pohorje?

Pohorje's forests, the Planje and waters offer shelter to numerous species of animals. Among the most common are Roe deer, red deer and chamois. Alpine animals are also characteristic for Pohorje – mountain hare, large wood grouse and blackcock. 

Endemic species are especially precious and those that can be found on Pohorje are the only and most important habitat for them in Slovenia. The highest number of such species can be found among vertebrates and insects, for instance the Cranberry blue and the Giant peacock moth, the biggest butterfly in Europe! Due to the verified high degree of endemism it could be possible in the future to also come across new species. This applies particularly to aquatic, waterside and marshland animals.

And there are... 

• approximately 90 species of birds (woodpecker, sparrow owl, partridge, hawk, buzzard, sparrow hawk, owl, cuckoo, titmouse, kingfisher, blackbird…) – and do not forget about Požeg, an ornithological reserve;
• small mammals, insectivores and rodents (squirrel, squirrel mouse, mountain shrew, yellow-throated mouse, muskrat, vole, bat…);
• game (roe deer, red deer, chamois, wild boar, field and mountain hare, otter, marten, badger…);
•  reptiles and amphibious animals (viviparous lizard, grass snake, Aesculapian snake, horned viper and adder as well as the Alpine newt in the lake Črno jezero, frogs…);
• 700 species of butterflies;
• beetles (the habitat of the giant Carabidae is the only one located in Slovenia!);
• molluscs (Limacidae, shells in waters and in lakes) and 
• fish (grayling, brown trout, nose carp…).