Fauna

According to historical records, the European red deer once inhabited the Kopaonik area. Notably, Count Gregor Minster, a renowned hunting expert and author of the book “Der Hirschruf der”, described his hunt on Kopaonik in September 1873, where he recorded the presence of red deer among other game species. He detailed his experience, noting that he harvested a “non-typical ten-pointer with a velvet and quite high, but unfortunately very thin antlers.” The primary reasons for the disappearance of the European red deer from Kopaonik were disturbed peace and increased poaching, as adequate control and protection could not be established. In 2016 and 2017, signs of deer were observed on the southern slopes of Kopaonik National Park, and during the autumn-winter of 2018, a deer was sighted by the park’s ranger service. In 2020, the public enterprise “National Park Kopaonik” initiated the reintroduction of red deer into a fenced breeding area of 196 hectares. The main objectives of increasing the populations of European red deer and wild boar are to form variable populations, maintain them within the capacity of their environment, and ultimately valorize these species as resources. The valorization of red deer and wild boar as natural resources, in terms of socio-economic aspects, has particular significance through the enrichment of the tourist and eco-tourist offerings in Kopaonik National Park. Strengthening the red deer population also indirectly enhances the condition of forest and other ecosystems within the park. The role of red deer in maintaining the “dynamic equilibrium of ecosystems” is well known, as it involves the reduction of certain plant species (such as ivy, hawthorn, blackberry, wild raspberry, and other species found in grazing areas), particularly evident during the winter period. The natural conditions for cultivating European red deer and wild boar on Kopaonik suggest that it could be developed as a breeding ground for these species.

The faunistic richness is conditioned by the central location of Kopaonik on the Balkan Peninsula, the ruggedness of the terrain, and the richness of flora, vegetation, and habitats. These prerequisites, combined with a long geological development period and minimal glaciation impact, have led to the presence of 138 butterfly species. Kopaonik is among the richest mountains on the Balkan Peninsula in terms of this insect group. The Balkan Peninsula hosts 290 butterfly species, so the 138 species of Kopaonik account for 47.5% of the total Balkan butterfly fauna. Serbia is known to have 194 species in its fauna, meaning that the species of Kopaonik represent 71% of this number. The presence of specific faunistic elements on Kopaonik is of particular significance. The species Coenonympha orientalis Rebel and Boloria titania Esper have their easternmost distribution precisely on Kopaonik. During field research, a new butterfly species for Serbia was discovered on Kopaonik. Zygaena augelicae is a species inhabiting northern regions, with Slovenia previously considered the southernmost point of its distribution before its discovery on Kopaonik. In the zone of high-mountainous rocky areas, on open (oro)mediterranean pastures, rocky slopes, and ravines, we also encounter the species Colias caucasica Staudinger, a Pliocene relict preserved in a refugial habitat above the spruce forest belt. The presence of the species Phengaris (Maculinea) arion Linnaeus is of great importance. This myrmecophilous species has an interesting life cycle: the first half of the caterpillar’s life is spent in the flower heads of plant species Origanum and Thymus, which are then taken into ant nests by ants of the species Myrmica sabuleti and M. scabrinodis, where the caterpillars feed on the larvae of these ants until completing their post-embryonic development. Phengaris (Maculinea) arion Linnaeus is a significant indicator species for the state of natural ecosystems and is thus subject to biological monitoring throughout Europe (European Environmental Agency, Butterfly Conservation Europe). On a European level, Kopaonik is considered to possess 17 butterfly species designated as target species: Z. polyxena, P. mnemosyne, P. apollo, C. caucasica, L. dispar, P. vicrama, S. orion, G. alexis, P(M). arion, M. alcon, P. eros, B. titania, N. vaualbum, E. aurinia, M. aurelia, C. orientalis, and E. medusa. The species of butterflies covered by the NATURA 2000 program, which are of European importance, include: Lycaena dispar, Polyommatus eroides, Nymphalis vaualbum, and Euphydryas aurinia. These species are protected under the Regulation on the Declaration and Protection of Strictly Protected and Protected Wild Plant, Animal, and Fungal Species.

From the 19th century to the present, around 180 bird species have been recorded in the Kopaonik area. The actual number of species that can be encountered in this region is certainly higher, estimated at about 210 species. Of the species recorded so far, 125 have been known to breed in Kopaonik. Due to the disappearance of several former breeders in Kopaonik, the number of species currently breeding here is around 115. The avifauna is dominated by birds of forest habitats, open mountain habitats, and birds of cultural landscapes. Birds associated with aquatic habitats are not significantly present in Kopaonik. Due to its great diversity, richness of avifauna, and the presence of rare and endangered species, Kopaonik was included in the list of internationally significant bird areas (IBA) as early as 1997. Characteristic forest breeders of Kopaonik include: the honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), the snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus), the Ural owl (Strix uralensis), the tawny owl (Aegolius funereus), the white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos), the three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus), the hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia), the little flycatcher (Ficedula parva), the wood warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix), and the alpine tit (Parus montanus). High mountain pastures and rubble are inhabited by the alpine lark (Eremophila alpestris), the rock thrush (Monticola saxatilis), the rock partridge (Alectoris graeca), and the alpine accentor (Prunella collaris). On rocky cliffs and in river canyons, the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), and the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) breed. Areas with meadows and orchards are inhabited by the corncrake (Crex crex), the scops owl (Otus scops), the hoopoe (Upupa epops), the red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio), the wood lark (Lullula arborea), the plum tit (Parus lugubris), and the black-headed bunting (Emberiza hortulana). Several species that once regularly bred in Kopaonik have ceased to do so in recent times due to significant anthropogenic pressures. These include the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), the red-billed chough (Pyrrocorax pyrrocorax), the yellow-billed chough (Pyrrocorax graculus), the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), the cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), the booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus), the wallcreeper (Trichodroma muraria), and the European roller (Coracias garrulus). A range of protective measures is implemented within the national park to retain a greater number of species and support their normal life activities, such as installing artificial nesting boxes and aligning other park activities with the needs of bird conservation.