Fauna

The fauna of the park is also of great importance. On Psiloritis, one of the last surviving populations of the Cretan Wild Cat (Felis silvestris creticus), a “phantom” animal for zoologists and researchers of the Cretan wild life, is to be found. Till the mid 90’s, the animal was known only through vague hunter’s and shepherd’s tales. Recently, however, after an intense investigation by the Natural History Museum of Crete, the presence of the Cretan Wild Cat was scientifically confirmed at the southern steep cliffs of the mountain.
Many invertebrates and most amphibians and reptiles of Crete are living in the Park. All the Cretan mammals are also present here. Cretan Argus (Kretania psylorita, a small endemic butterfly) is quite common on the plateau of Nida, as well as the Cretan shrew (Crocidura zimmermanni), which is a “living fossil” and the only Greek endemic mammal! Furthermore, many birds are to be found inhabiting the area, such as the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) an endangered species in Europe. The Cretan population of the species is one of the few surviving in southern Europe and thus of great importance.

Further information in the site : www.psiloritis.eu