Bulgaria is a small country in southeast Europe, and is home to a variety of species due to its climate and geography. The
brown bear and jackal are the prime mammals here, but there are several groups of smaller animals that exist as well.
The Eastern Imperial Eagle is a massive eagle with a length of 28 to 33 inches, a wingspan of about six to seven feet, and weighs anywhere from a little over five pounds up to ten pounds. The Eastern Imperial Eagle population was starting to diminish before 2000, but since then, the population has grown to about 27 breeding pairs. It once nested in the mountains of Bulgaria, but nowadays, the eagle can be found in the southeastern part of the country in the hilly and lowland habitats.
The Eurasion Lynx is a medium-sized cat, and the largest of the lynx species. Its length ranges from 31 to 51 inches, and it stands about 28 inches at the shoulder. Males generally weigh about 40 to 66 pounds, and females weigh around 40 pounds. Depending on its location, the lynx will live either in a rugged, forested setting, or high in the mountains most of the year. It will follow its prey down to the lowlands in the winter to avoid deep snow. Like the Eastern Imperial Eagle, the lynx's population is growing.
A semi-aquatic species of the Mustelid, the
European Mink is considered to be in extinction due to a continuous reduction in numbers due to agricultural development, the decline of crayfish, and disease. Male minks are about 14 to 17 inches in length, females around 13-16 inches. The tails for both males and females are five to seven inches long. Even though it is similar to the
American Mink, the European Mink is actually closely related to the
European polecat and kolonok and prefers to live near forest streams that are unlikely to freeze in the winter.
Bulgaria also has a large population of horses, birds,
wild boars, and wolves.