Fauna in Greece

Located on the eastern side of the Mediterranean Sea and on the borders between three continents (Europe, Asia, and Africa), Fauna in Greece is extremely diverse with many species. The mountainous regions of the country, particularly the forests of Greece, host bears, wild cats, brown squirrels, jackals, wolves, foxes, deer and lynxes (especially in northern Greece). A rare species of wild goat, known as kri-kri, inhabits the mountainous regions of Crete island.
You will find below information about the varieties of fauna in Greece.

Varieties of fauna

Information about the variety of the fauna of Greece: wild animals, birds and domestic animals in different areas of Greece.

Wild animals

There are 116 species of mammals in Greece and 57 of them belong to endangered species, such as the Brown Bears of Epirus. For the protection of the brown bears, the wolves, snakes, and other endangered species, many environmental organizations have been established, such as Arcturos that works on the preservation of wildlife and natural environment. Many wildlife centers have also been created for the hospitalization and rehabilitation of wild animals, such as the Wildlife Hospital in Aegina and the Alkyoni Wildlife Centre in Paros.

Birds

A large number of 422 bird species are recorded in Greece and about 70% of them are migratory birds. On the way from northern to southern countries, many birds stop in lakes or river deltas for a few weeks, creating a rare ecosystem. These regions are protected by nature conservation legislation, such as the Delta of Evros River, the biotope of Lake Kerkini, the ecosystem of Lakes Prespes and many others.

Domestic animals

However, the most characteristic animals in Greece are goat, sheep, and cows. These domestic animals can be seen very frequently in the Greek countryside, mostly in the mountains. It is a common experience to drive in the mountain roads and see sheep flocks getting on your way.