Animals in Romania
Eurasian Lynx
Lynx lynx
The Eurasian lynx is Romania’s national animal. It lives in the Carpathian forests, moving quietly through spruce and beech to hunt deer and hare. Camera traps and track surveys confirm its return in more areas after years of protection. In museums and visitor centers the lynx is used to explain how large carnivores fit into modern rural life and why healthy forests need top predators.
View details→Wildlife in Romania
Romania brings together the Carpathian Mountains, deep forests and the Danube Delta. Trails in national parks such as Piatra Craiului and Retezat lead to viewpoints, caves and alpine lakes. Boat tours in the Delta show reed beds and channels rich in birds. Travelers often see deer tracks near villages and hear owls at night, with guided hides for quiet wildlife watching.
Most Dangerous Animals in Romania
Wildlife risks in Romania vary by habitat. In forested mountains, brown bears and wild boar can react if surprised, and gray wolves and lynx keep distance but defend food and young. In northern wetlands and pine edges, European adders rest on warm ground in summer. European bison are large and unpredictable when moving through river flats. Most encounters remain brief and seen from far across valleys and fields.
Top 10 Animals in Romania
Our Top 10 for Romania focuses on red deer, brown bear, Eurasian lynx, gray wolf and peregrine falcon. Red deer shape many valleys and are easiest at dawn near meadows. Bears, wolves and lynx anchor the wild image of the Carpathians and draw careful tracking tours. Peregrines nest on cliffs and tall buildings, giving clear views. Each entry points to regions and seasons with real chances to see them.
Golden Jackal
Canis aureus
In Romania, the golden jackal has expanded its range noticeably since the late twentieth century, spreading into the Danube Delta, the Dobruja region, and lowland agricultural areas. It thrives along river corridors and wetland edges where food and cover are plentiful. Romanian records confirm a growing and stable population. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Badger
Meles meles
The European badger, called bursuc in Romanian, is widespread across Romania in deciduous woodland, forest edges and farmland, from the Carpathian foothills to the Danube plain and the hills of Transylvania. It lives in family groups in large setts and is active mainly at night, feeding on earthworms, insects, berries, maize and small animals. Populations are stable. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Brown Bear
Ursus arctos
Romania has the largest brown bear population in the European Union. A genetic study published in 2025 estimated 10,400 to 12,800 bears in the Carpathians. Some bears now walk into towns such as Brașov in search of garbage, and after a fatal attack in July 2024 the country raised the number of bears that can be shot, a policy criticized by conservation groups. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Chamois
Rupicapra rupicapra
Romania has the largest chamois population of the Carpathians, made up of the Carpathian subspecies, among the biggest and heaviest chamois. They live on the high ridges of the Southern and Eastern Carpathians, including Retezat, Făgăraș, Bucegi, Piatra Craiului and Rodna. Numbers fell under heavy hunting and have recovered with protection. Brown bears, wolves and lynx share their range. IUCN status: Least Concern.
European Bison
Bison bonasus
Romania is one of the fastest growing frontiers for the European bison, with roughly 200 to 300 animals living free by 2024. Herds were released in Vânători-Neamț Natural Park, in the Eastern Carpathians, from 2012, and in the Țarcu Mountains of the Southern Carpathians from 2014, in the largest bison rewilding effort in Europe. New animals arrive from breeding centers in Germany, Sweden and other countries almost every year, and the goal for Țarcu alone is over 250 bison by 2029. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Hare
Lepus europaeus
Romania holds one of Europe's largest European hare populations, on the Wallachian Plain, the Moldavian Plateau, the Banat and the Transylvanian Basin. Open farmland, steppe and river floodplains all suit it. The hare is a major game species, and hunting quotas are set every year from spring counts. As elsewhere, larger fields and chemical use have reduced numbers in some regions. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
Romania holds one of the largest wolf populations in the European Union, with several thousand individuals living mainly in the Carpathian Mountains. The country's extensive forests provide ideal habitat and prey such as red deer, roe deer and wild boar are abundant. Romania's wolves have been a source of natural recolonization for neighboring countries. Management of the species is debated, balancing conservation goals with the interests of rural and livestock farming communities in the Carpathian region.
Alpine Marmot
Marmota marmota
Marmots disappeared from the Romanian Carpathians centuries ago. In 1973, 50 animals from the French and Austrian Alps were released in the Rodna, Retezat and Făgăraș Mountains, and a 2025 study counted about 815, a population that keeps growing. They live on alpine meadows above the tree line, where they share the slopes with chamois. Poaching has been a problem in Rodna. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Marten
Martes martes / Martes foina
Romania has both martens in good numbers. The pine marten lives in the Carpathian forests, among the largest and best preserved in Europe, while the stone marten is widespread in the hills and lowlands, in farmland, villages and towns, where it nests in barns and attics. The two often meet at the forest edge. Both hunt rodents and birds at night and eat berries and fruit in late summer and autumn. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Lynx
Lynx lynx
Romania has one of the largest Eurasian lynx populations in the European Union, living mainly in the forests of the Carpathians, where roe deer, red deer and chamois are plentiful. The lynx is also the national animal of Romania. Lynx captured in Romania have been moved to Slovenia, Croatia, Italy and Germany to strengthen small reintroduced populations. Illegal hunting and logging remain concerns. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Deer
Cervus elaphus
Romania holds one of the largest red deer (Cervus elaphus) populations in Europe, supported by the country's vast Carpathian forests and extensive lowland woodlands. The Carpathian Mountains provide rich habitat across all seasons, and the species is a key part of Romania's wildlife heritage. Stags here are known for their impressive body size and antler development. Regulated hunting and large areas of intact forest help sustain the population. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
Romania's varied landscapes give the red fox excellent habitat, from the forests and meadows of the Carpathians to the farmland of the Wallachian and Banat plains and the reed beds and levees of the Danube Delta. It is one of the most common carnivores in the country and an important predator of voles in the fields. Hunting is allowed, and oral vaccine baits have been used against rabies. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Squirrel
Sciurus vulgaris
Romania supports a healthy population of red squirrels across its extensive forests, including the Carpathian woodlands and the broadleaf forests of Transylvania. The country's large areas of intact forest provide ideal habitat, offering plentiful conifers and oak trees. The species is widespread and not under significant pressure here. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Roe Deer
Capreolus capreolus
Romania's diverse landscapes support healthy roe deer populations across the Carpathian foothills, mixed forests, and agricultural plains of Transylvania and Moldavia. The species thrives where woodland meets open farmland, offering both shelter and a varied diet of buds, herbs, and berries. Hunting is managed under national regulations. Roe deer are most active at dawn and dusk throughout the year. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Wild boars are abundant in the forests of Romania, from the Carpathian Mountains to the oak forests of the lowlands and the reed beds of the Danube Delta. Romania has some of the largest populations of wolves and brown bears in Europe, and both hunt boars. Boars are a popular game animal, sometimes visit the edges of cities, and African swine fever has hit the country hard. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Raccoons have reached Romania as the species expands across central and eastern Europe, and records come mainly from lowland forests and river floodplains. The country's wetlands, including the Danube and its tributaries, offer plenty of food and cover, which worries researchers because of the risk to native birds and amphibians. Like its neighbors, Romania manages the raccoon as an invasive alien species. IUCN status: Least Concern.
European Wildcat
Felis silvestris
Romania holds one of the largest European wildcat populations in Europe, spread across the forests of the Carpathians, the wooded hills of Transylvania and the lowland woods along the Danube. This sturdy cat has a broad head, dense striped fur and a thick tail with a blunt black tip. It preys mainly on voles and mice. Crossbreeding with house cats near villages is a growing concern even here. IUCN status: Least Concern.
European Adder
Vipera berus
In Romania, the European adder lives mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and their foothills, in forest clearings, mountain meadows, bogs and rocky slopes, and in some cooler lowland areas of the north. It feeds on voles, mice and lizards and hibernates through the cold winters. Romania's large areas of traditional pasture and forest still support healthy populations. Other vipers live in the warmer south. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eagle Owl
Bubo bubo
Romania supports a healthy eagle owl population, with birds nesting in the rocky gorges of the Carpathian Mountains and along the cliffs of the Danube. The varied landscape of forest, mountain, and river valley gives the species a wide range of hunting and nesting opportunities. Persecution in the past reduced numbers, but the population has since recovered well under legal protection. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.
Saker Falcon
Falco cherrug
Romania is one of the more important countries in Eastern Europe for the saker falcon. Breeding pairs use the open agricultural plains and steppe-like grasslands of the Pannonian region in the west, as well as areas in Dobrogea near the Black Sea coast. Nest box programs and efforts to make power lines safer have helped support the population in recent decades. Romania participates in regional conservation initiatives aimed at securing the survival of this species over the long term. The IUCN lists it as Endangered.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
The barn owl is found across Romania in open farmland, river valleys, and rural villages from the Danube plain and the Transylvanian plateau to the Moldavian lowlands. It nests in old farm buildings, church towers, and hollow trees, and hunts mice and voles at night in open fields. Romania's large areas of traditional farmland with old buildings and rough grassland provide some of the best remaining barn owl habitat in Eastern Europe. Populations are generally stable, supported by the relatively low intensity of agriculture in many rural areas.
White tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
Romania is home to an important population of white tailed eagles, especially in the Danube Delta, one of Europe's largest and richest wetlands. This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers vast reed beds, lakes and channels full of fish and waterfowl. Eagles also nest along the Danube floodplain farther inland, and more arrive from the north in winter. Illegal poisoning and disturbance near nests are the main threats. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Crane
Grus grus
Romania provides important staging habitat for common cranes moving through the Balkans and the Danube corridor during migration. The Danube Delta and the wetlands of the Dobrogea region attract large flocks in autumn and spring. Cranes rest and feed in flooded fields and marshes before continuing their journey. Romania's vast network of wetlands makes it a key country for migratory waterbirds. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Stork
Ciconia ciconia
Romania supports a substantial white stork breeding population, with pairs nesting across the Transylvanian plateau, the Moldavian plains, and the Danube Delta. The delta in particular offers exceptional feeding habitat, its shallow channels and wetlands teeming with fish, frogs, and invertebrates. Storks nest on rooftops and telegraph poles in rural villages, and their return each spring is celebrated as a mark of the changing season.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
The white wagtail is a common breeding bird across Romania, from the Danube Delta and the plains of Wallachia to the valleys of the Carpathians. It nests in walls, bridges, woodpiles and farm buildings, usually near rivers, ponds or villages, and hunts insects along muddy banks and in pastures. Most birds leave in autumn for the Mediterranean and Africa, while a few stay through mild winters in the south. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
The peregrine falcon breeds in Romania in small but growing numbers, with pairs nesting on cliff faces in the Carpathian Mountains and the Apuseni range. The Danube Delta and other lowland wetlands attract wintering and migrating birds. The species declined severely during the communist era due to persecution and pesticide use, but legal protection and nest monitoring have supported gradual recovery in recent decades. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Romania's Danube Delta is one of the most important wetland habitats in Europe, and the mute swan breeds and winters there in notable numbers. The delta's vast network of channels, reed beds, and shallow lakes provides ideal conditions for nesting and feeding. Pairs are regularly seen gliding along quiet waterways. The species also appears on inland lakes and reservoirs across the country. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
Romania holds strong nightingale populations, particularly in the lowland forests and river corridors of Wallachia and Moldova, where dense undergrowth beneath oak and willow trees provides perfect nesting habitat. The Danube Delta region also supports the species in its thicket edges. Males begin singing in late April, and their song is a celebrated part of the Romanian spring. The species is considered common and widespread across the country. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
In Romania, the golden eagle lives in the Carpathian Mountains, where it nests on cliff faces and in tall trees and hunts over alpine meadows and forested ridges. It feeds on hares, foxes, grouse and young chamois. The Carpathians offer some of the best remaining habitat in eastern Europe, although the population here is small. Pairs keep the same territory for years and often have several nests. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
In Romania, the Eurasian magpie is a common resident of farmland, villages, river valleys and towns, from the Wallachian plain and the Danube to Transylvania and Moldavia, and it is a familiar bird in Bucharest. It avoids the dense forests of the high Carpathians. It stays all year, builds bulky domed nests, and its loud chatter often warns other birds of predators. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
Romania's Black Sea coast has the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin, an Endangered subspecies found only in this sea. It lives close to shore and is seen off Constanța, Mangalia and Vama Veche, especially in summer, and near the mouths of the Danube. Hunting ended in Romania in 1966, and today the main threats are turbot nets, pollution and the effects of the war in the region. IUCN status: Least Concern (Black Sea subspecies: Endangered).
Common Dolphin
Delphinus delphis
Romania's Black Sea coast has the Black Sea common dolphin, a subspecies found only in this sea. Groups are seen offshore from Constanța and Mangalia, mostly in summer, and they also visit the waters off the Danube Delta. Dolphin hunting ended in Romania in 1966, and today the main threats are accidental capture in turbot nets, pollution and the effects of the war in the region on marine life. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .