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The High Tatras - Wildlife

Chamois The chamois "mountain goats" (which appears on the TANAP logo) bears, boars, marmots and various deer species are only some of the many animals which help give the Tatras their character. Birds of prey, too, are found here in a unique combination.

The chamois, the symbol of the Tatras National Park, lives in the Western, High and Belianske Tatras, a separate subspecies: the Tatra Mountain Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica). The adult size of this mountain antelope, Lynx sometimes called a mountain "goat", is 75-85 cm long and 70-90 cm high, with weight of 24-36 kg. Both sexes have curved, hooked horns. The habitat of this chamois is in alpine meadows in steep rocky terrain above 1700 m a.s.l. Up to the tree line (as distinct from other alpine chamois) it is seen only exceptionally, for short periods of time in the winter. It is active during the day, and particularly in the summer can be seen near hiking trails. Older males live alone, while females and their young form small herds. The mating season is in November, and in May and June single young are born. The most serious predators of the chamois include the lynx and occasionally the wolf.

Despite year-round protection measures, the number of chamois within TANAP never tops 500 -- a critical state, with constantly decreasing tendency. Scientists carefully observe the behavior and health conditions of the chamois.

Buzzard Several wolf (Canis lupus) packs prowl TANAP territory. The wolf is the main predator of large hoofed animals such as deer and other wild ungulates. They are year-round residents, and also raise their young here.

The lynx (Lynx lynx) is the largest feline found in TANAP, and an active predator of roe deer as well as chamois.

Common viper Tatra marmot (Marmota marmota latirostius), with the chamois, is the most typical of the Tatras' alpine mammals. Some 1200 individuals live within TANAP.

Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are the most numerous of large ungulates within TANAP.

Wild boar (Sus scrofa) is common wild animal, both in TANAP and throughout the Carpathian Mountains.

The buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a permanent nester in subalpine parts of TANAP. It's the most numerous of all birds of prey throughout Slovakia. It often shares an ecosystem with the Lesser Spotted Eagle.

Common viper (Vipera berus) is poisonous, and the most numberous snake found in TANAP.

    
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