Animals in Albania
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
The eagle is the great symbol of the Albanians, and the golden eagle is widely seen as the national animal, although no law names it. The black double headed eagle on the red flag goes back to the banner of Skanderbeg in the 15th century, and many link Shqipëria, the country's own name, to the Albanian word for eagle.
View details→Wildlife in Albania
Albania is a small country on the Balkan Peninsula, a little smaller than Belgium, yet about 70 percent of it is mountains and hills. Around 2.4 million people live there, nearly a third of them in and around Tirana, so beyond the capital and the coastal plain the land quickly turns into forested ranges, high pastures and deep river valleys. In a few hours by road it goes from the lagoons of the Adriatic and the bays of the Ionian Sea to the snowy peaks of the Albanian Alps. The coast has hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters, while the mountains are cold and snowy, so most hiking happens between June and September. That mix of sea, wetland and mountain gives wildlife a lot of room in a small space.
For centuries shepherds moved their sheep and goats between winter grazing in the lowlands and summer pastures in the mountains, and in those high valleys bears and wolves have always lived close to people. Its first national parks, among them Theth, Lurë and Llogara, were created together in 1966 to protect mountain forests, and today Lake Ohrid and two ancient beech forests are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In 2014 Albania banned hunting nationwide. In 2023 the Vjosa, one of the last free flowing rivers in Europe, became the continent's first wild river national park, closed to dams along its whole course in Albania.
Tourism has grown fast, with a record of more than 12 million foreign visitors in 2025. Most come for the beaches of the Albanian Riviera, the old towns of Berat and Gjirokastër and the ancient city of Butrint, and hikers head north for the trail between Theth and Valbona. Wildlife follows these contrasts: bears, wolves and wild cats in the mountain forests, eagles and falcons over the cliffs, thousands of waterbirds on the coastal lagoons in winter, and dolphins in the bays of the south.
Most Dangerous Animals in Albania
Albania has few animals that are a real danger to people, and serious incidents are rare. The biggest risk in the mountains comes from bears, which usually avoid people but can be dangerous when surprised at close range or when a mother is with her cubs. Hikers in the Albanian Alps and the eastern ranges should talk or make some noise on forest trails, keep food packed away at night and never walk toward a bear, even to take a photo. Wolves live in the same mountains, but attacks on people are almost unknown; their conflict is with shepherds, whose sheep and goats they sometimes take. Wild boars can charge when they are wounded or protecting their young, so it is best to give them space. The lynx and the wild cats of the forests are shy and harmless to people.
Venomous snakes are the most common real risk. A few kinds of viper live in Albania, from dry rocky hillsides near the coast to high mountain meadows, and they bite mostly when someone steps on them or reaches into a crack in the rocks. Boots, long pants and watching where you put your hands lower the risk, and any bite needs fast medical care at a hospital.
Top 10 Animals in Albania
Albania's best known animals live mostly in its mountains, and seeing them takes patience. Brown bears roam the forests of the north, east and southeast, from the Albanian Alps around Theth and Valbona to Shebenik and Prespa near the borders with North Macedonia and Greece, and gray wolves share the same ranges, more often tracked or heard than seen. Albania's lynx is the Balkan lynx, a form of the Eurasian lynx and one of the rarest cats in Europe: only a handful survive here, and camera traps have recorded them in the Munella mountains and in Shebenik National Park, where breeding has been confirmed. The European wildcat hunts in the same forests at night. Golden eagles and peregrine falcons nest on cliffs in the mountains and canyons, and the European adder lives in the high meadows of the north. In winter the coastal lagoons of Karavasta and Narta fill with waterbirds, and white tailed eagles and mute swans turn up among them. The stork has become rare: only a few pairs still nest in the country, some of them on platforms that conservation groups placed on power poles near Fier and Gjirokastër. Along the southern coast, bottlenose dolphins are seen in the Bay of Vlora and around Karaburun and Sazan.
Golden Jackal
Canis aureus
In Albania, the golden jackal is well established along the Adriatic coastal lowlands and in the river floodplains of the interior, where wetlands and farmland sit side by side. It is one of the more visible wild canids in the country, often detected by its howling at dusk. Opportunistic and bold, it feeds on everything from small prey to fruit and scraps. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Badger
Meles meles
The European badger lives across Albania in forested hills and mixed woodland, particularly in the mountainous interior where suitable soils allow it to dig its setts. It is nocturnal and rarely seen, but signs of its digging are common in wooded areas. Hunting and habitat loss have made it scarce in places, and Albania's national red list rates it Endangered. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Brown Bear
Ursus arctos
Albania has a small population of brown bears in the forests of the north and east, from the Albanian Alps to the mountains along the borders with North Macedonia and Greece. They depend on beech and oak forests. Poaching and the keeping of captive bears in cages next to restaurants were long common, and several rescued bears were sent to sanctuaries. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Chamois
Rupicapra rupicapra
In Albania, chamois live in the high limestone peaks of the Albanian Alps in the north, around Valbona and Theth, and in a few other mountain areas. Numbers are small and scattered, because poaching hit them hard for decades. They share these slopes with brown bears, gray wolves and lynx, and golden eagles take some of the kids. Livestock grazing in summer pastures also pushes them higher. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Hare
Lepus europaeus
The European hare lives across Albania's lowland fields, river plains and grassy foothills, from the Myzeqe plain near the coast to the open valleys of the interior. It rests by day in shallow hollows called forms and feeds at dusk and at night. Hunting pressure is high in parts of the Balkans, and changes in farming have reduced the mix of crops and field edges that hares depend on. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
In Albania, gray wolves inhabit the mountainous interior of the country, particularly in areas near the borders with Kosovo and North Macedonia. The population is relatively small but connected to wolf groups in neighboring Balkan nations. Wolves occasionally prey on livestock, creating tension with local farmers. Conservation efforts in the Balkans aim to protect this connectivity across borders over the long term. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Pine Marten
Martes martes
In Albania, the pine marten keeps to the beech and fir forests of the Albanian Alps in the north and the mountains of the east, along the borders with Kosovo and North Macedonia. It needs old, undisturbed woods and is much rarer than the stone marten. It hunts rodents, squirrels and birds at night and eats wild berries and fruit in late summer. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Stone Marten
Martes foina
In Albania, the stone marten is the marten people meet. It lives on rocky slopes, in olive groves, scrub and around villages from the coast to the mountains, and it often sleeps in old stone houses and barns. It hunts rodents and birds at night, raids henhouses when it can and eats figs, grapes and wild berries in late summer. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Lynx
Lynx lynx
Albania is one of the last refuges of the Balkan lynx, a subspecies with fewer than 50 adults left. Camera traps have recorded it in the Munella mountains, in Shebenik Jabllanicë National Park on the border with North Macedonia and, more recently, in the Albanian Alps. It hunts roe deer, chamois and hares in remote beech forests. Poaching and logging are the main threats, and the Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme monitors it. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
In Albania, the red fox lives from the high Albanian Alps in the north to the coastal lagoons, olive groves and farmland of the Adriatic lowlands. It is one of the country's most common wild carnivores and is often seen at dusk along field edges and rural roads. It eats voles, hares, birds, insects and a lot of fruit such as figs and grapes, and it shares much of its range with the golden jackal. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Squirrel
Sciurus vulgaris
The red squirrel is found in the forested mountain regions of Albania, particularly in the mixed and coniferous woodlands of the Albanian Alps and the highlands further south. It feeds on seeds, nuts, and fungi, storing food underground to survive winter. Its coat tends toward darker shades in this part of its range. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Roe Deer
Capreolus capreolus
The roe deer is found across Albania's forested hills and mountain slopes, particularly in areas like the Accursed Mountains and the forests of central Albania. It favors mixed woodland and scrubby edges where cover is dense. Its coat turns gray in winter and russet in summer. It remains a familiar presence in Albanian forests, though hunting pressure and habitat loss require ongoing attention. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Wild boars are common across the forested mountains and hills of Albania, one of the most widespread large mammals in the country. They keep to dense woodland near water and come down to the edges of farmland at night to feed. Boar hunting has a long tradition here, and wolves, brown bears and lynx all live in the same forests and take boars, especially piglets. IUCN status: Least Concern.
European Wildcat
Felis silvestris
The European wildcat lives in the forested hills and mountains of Albania, from the Accursed Mountains in the north to the wooded slopes of the south. Bulkier than a house cat, it has thick striped fur and a heavy tail with black rings and a blunt black tip. It hunts voles, mice and birds mostly at night. Crossbreeding with stray cats, illegal hunting and logging are its main threats here. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Otter
Lutra lutra
In Albania the otter lives along rivers, lakes and coastal lagoons, and one of its strongholds is the Vjosa, one of the last wild, undammed rivers in Europe, declared a national park in 2023. Lakes Prespa and Ohrid and the lagoons of the coast are also important. Hunting and habitat loss have reduced it in places. It shares Albanian wetlands with storks and white tailed eagles, and the mountains with brown bears. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
European Adder
Vipera berus
In Albania, the European adder lives only in the high mountains of the north and east, in rocky slopes, alpine meadows and clearings where forest gives way to open ground. It is one of the country's vipers, alongside the more common nose horned viper of lower areas. Shy and rarely seen, it feeds on small rodents and lizards, and its populations here are small and at the southern edge of its range. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus
Albania lost its breeding griffon vultures in the 1990s, when poisoning and hunting wiped out the last colonies, but the species still appears in its mountains during the breeding season. The steep limestone cliffs and remote gorges of the country remain good habitat, and birds from colonies in neighboring countries cross into Albania while foraging. Their return as a breeding bird is a goal of Balkan vulture projects. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Lanner Falcon
Falco biarmicus
The lanner falcon is an uncommon resident in Albania, found mainly along rocky cliffs and gorges in the inland mountain ranges. It hunts birds such as doves and pigeons using fast, low pursuit flights across open terrain. Pairs stay together year round and nest on cliff ledges. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, though habitat disturbance and power line electrocution pose local threats.
Eagle Owl
Bubo bubo
In Albania, the Eurasian eagle owl inhabits rocky hillsides, river gorges, and forested uplands, particularly in the Albanian Alps and the mountainous interior. It is a year round resident and one of the country's most impressive nocturnal birds. Hunting mainly after dark, it preys on rabbits, rodents, and other birds. The IUCN considers it Least Concern across its wide range.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
The barn owl is a resident of lowland and coastal Albania, found in open farmland, olive groves, and rural villages across the Adriatic coastal plain and the river valleys of the interior. It nests in old stone buildings, church towers, and cliff faces, and hunts mice and voles at night in open fields. Albania's relatively traditional agricultural landscape, with many old rural structures still intact, provides good nesting opportunities. It is one of the more commonly encountered owls in the country's open and semi open habitats.
White tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
In Albania, the white tailed eagle is scarce, seen mostly around coastal lagoons such as Divjakë Karavasta and large lakes such as Shkodër, with more birds in the colder months. It hunts fish and waterfowl in these wetlands. Illegal hunting and disturbance remain concerns for its presence here. It nests in tall trees near the water, and winter is the best time to see it. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Crane
Grus grus
The common crane passes through Albania during its seasonal migrations, with flocks moving along the Adriatic coast and resting in lowland wetlands such as the Shkumbin river valley. Standing up to 120 centimeters tall, this grey bird with its bold black and white head is hard to miss in open fields. It holds a status of Least Concern globally, and Albanian wetlands provide a useful stopover for birds heading to and from wintering grounds further south.
Stork
Ciconia ciconia
The white stork breeds in Albania's river valleys and agricultural lowlands, particularly around the Shkumbin and Vjosa rivers. Pairs build large stick nests on rooftops and utility poles in rural villages, returning to the same site each spring. The species feeds in wet meadows and farmland, catching frogs, insects, and small animals. Albania sits along an important migration corridor connecting Europe to Africa. IUCN status: Least Concern.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
The white wagtail breeds across Albania, along rivers such as the Drin, Vjosa and Shkumbin, around Lake Shkodra and in villages and towns, where it nests in walls, bridges and old buildings. In winter its numbers grow as birds from central and eastern Europe arrive to spend the cold months in the coastal lowlands and wetlands such as Divjaka-Karavasta, where it feeds on insects at the water's edge. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
In Albania, the peregrine falcon breeds along the rugged limestone cliffs of the Albanian Alps and the canyon landscapes of the interior. It also moves through coastal areas during migration. The country's varied terrain, from the Accursed Mountains in the north to the Ionian coast, supports both resident and passage birds. The species is considered Least Concern and populations across the western Balkans remain stable.
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
The mute swan is a large waterbird with pure white feathers, a long curved neck, and an orange bill marked with a black knob. In Albania, it can be found around coastal lagoons such as Karavasta, one of the most important wetlands in the Balkans. Pairs bond for many years and raise their chicks together. The IUCN lists this species as Least Concern.
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
In Albania, the nightingale is a well known breeding bird of spring and summer, found in riparian forests, dense Mediterranean scrub, and shrubby valleys throughout much of the country. Its song is deeply familiar to people in rural areas and is celebrated in local tradition. The species arrives from Africa in April and departs again in late summer. Habitat in Albania remains relatively intact compared to parts of western Europe. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
In Albania, the golden eagle lives in the mountainous interior, especially the Albanian Alps in the north and the rugged ranges of the south. It soars over open slopes in search of hares, tortoises and other prey and nests on remote cliff ledges. Illegal shooting and disturbance have reduced it, and it is a strictly protected species in the country. Pairs keep the same territory for years and often have several nests. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
In Albania, the Eurasian magpie is a common resident of farmland, olive groves, river valleys and the edges of towns, from the coastal plains around Durrës and Vlorë to the lower valleys of the mountains. It builds its large domed nest of thorny sticks high in trees and stays all year. Bold and noisy, it is one of the most familiar black and white birds in the Albanian countryside. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
Bottlenose dolphins live along the coast of Albania, on the Adriatic and the Ionian, and are seen most often in the Bay of Vlorë and around the Karaburun peninsula and Sazan Island, Albania's first marine protected area, created in 2010. Groups also follow fishing boats along the coast. Bycatch and pollution are the main threats. The Mediterranean population is Vulnerable. IUCN status: Least Concern (Mediterranean population: Vulnerable).
Frequently Asked Questions
What animals live in Albania?
Albania is home to brown bears, gray wolves, Balkan lynx, European wildcats, golden jackals, red foxes, badgers, martens, wild boars, chamois, roe deer, hares and red squirrels. Its birds include the golden eagle, white tailed eagle, griffon vulture, lanner and peregrine falcons, eagle owl, barn owl, crane, stork, mute swan, nightingale, white wagtail and Eurasian magpie. The European adder lives in the high mountains of the north, and bottlenose dolphins swim off the southern coast.
What is the national animal of Albania?
Albania's national animal is the eagle, and the golden eagle is the species most people have in mind, although it has never been named by law. The eagle appears in black, with two heads, on the national flag and coat of arms, a design linked to Skanderbeg, the 15th century hero who led the Albanians against the Ottoman Empire. Albanians sometimes call their country the land of the eagles. In the wild, the golden eagle has become scarce because of poaching and poison.
Are there bears in Albania?
Yes. Brown bears live in the mountains of the north, east and southeast of Albania, in places such as the Albanian Alps, Shebenik and Prespa, and they cross freely into Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Greece. Estimates from the 2010s put the population at roughly 180 to 250 bears, and they are protected by law. For many years bear cubs were taken from the wild to be kept in cages at restaurants, and conservation groups have worked to rescue them and end that practice.
Are there lynx in Albania?
Yes, but very few. Albania's lynx is the Balkan lynx, a form of the Eurasian lynx that survives in the mountains where Albania meets North Macedonia and Kosovo, and it is one of the most threatened cats in Europe. The first photo of one in Albania was taken by a camera trap in the Munella mountains in 2011. Since then lynx have also been recorded in Shebenik National Park and around Prespa, and conservation groups keep monitoring them with cameras because they are almost never seen.
Are there dolphins in Albania?
Yes. Bottlenose dolphins live along the Albanian coast and are most often seen in the south, in the Bay of Vlora and around the Karaburun Peninsula and Sazan Island. Since 2010 those waters have been protected as the Karaburun Sazan National Marine Park, the first marine protected area in the country. Boat trips from Vlora and Radhimë visit the sea caves of Karaburun, and dolphins sometimes swim alongside, although sightings are never guaranteed.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .