Pirin National Park Vocational High School of Veterinary Medicine “Prof. d-r George Pavlov” Dobrich, Bulgaria

Pirin National Park Pirin National Park is a World Heritage national park that encompasses the larger part of the Pirin mountains in the southwest of Bulgaria. It has an area of 274 km2 (106 sq mi) and lies at an altitude from 1,008–2,914 m (3,307–9,560 ft). Vihren, the highest summit of Pirin, is located within the park

Pirin National Park Vihren National Park was created on 8 November 1962 with the purpose of preservation of the forests in the highest parts of the mountain. The park had an area of 62 km2 (24 sq mi), which is a small part of its modern territory. It was renamed to Pirin People's Park in 1974 with a ministerial decree and its territory was considerably enlarged.

Protected Animals in Pirin National Park Fauna A huge number of animal species are preserved in the park, a cause of the relief diversity and southerly location. About 2090 species and subspecies of invertebrate are to be seen in the park, among them 300 rare species, 214 endemic and 175 relicts, as well as 15 that were included in international endangered species lists.

Protected Animals in Pirin National Park A total of 6 fish species inhabit the park, which constitute 6% of the whole freshwater fish species of Bulgaria, whereas 8 amphibian and 11 reptile species live within the protected area. Two of the fish, varione Leuciscus souffia and Balkan trout, are also relict species.

Protected Animals in Pirin National Park The number of bird species that can be seen in the park is particularly large-about 160, 40% of all bird species in Bulgaria. Species of birds are spotted eagle, golden eagle, lesser spotted eagle, short-toed eagle, booted eagle, capercaillie, hazel grouse, eagle owl, black woodpecker, three-toed woodpecker, Alpine chough, saker Falco, levant sparrow hawk, wallcreeper; capercaillie hazel grouse

spotted eagle golden eagle lesser spotted eagle booted eagle short-toed eagle

three-toed woodpecker Alpine chough black woodpecker eagle owl wallcreeper three-toed woodpecker levant sparrow hawk saker Falco

Protected Animals in Pirin National Park There are 45 terrestrial mammals (including 12 bat species) that inhabit the Pirin National Park, which is 50% of the total number in the country. Among them are the wild goat, and the brown bear. wild goat brown bear

Protected Animals in Pirin National Park Mammal species include brown bear grey wolf jackal pine martin rock martin polecat badger otter wild cat wild boar red deer roe deer Balkan chamois the greater mouse-eared bat longeared bat Greek tortoise red deer rock martin badger otter polecat

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT The inclusion of alpine meadows and mountain crags, which also cover the territories of free-ranging larger animals, is a major reason for extension of the World Heritage site. The duties of the Park administration under the ten-year Management Plan approved in 2004 Plan are to promote the protection, good management and maintenance of wilderness and biodiversity, to promote education and interpretation, scientific research, recreation, sustainable tourism and the livelihood of the local people, and to monitor habitats and species

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT Specific species conservation measures are rarely taken except for the census of birds and some large animals such as the Balkan chamois. The existing Management Plan for the Park adopted in 2004 does not allow for any further expansion or building of new ski slopes in the park.

‘This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.’