Top 10 Animals in Slovenia

The local team of My Guide network in Slovenia made a list of Top 10 Animals in Slovenia. Some of them are cute and can be patted while others are dangerous and are better to be avoided. Most of them are Slovene indigenous breeds which made a remarkable contribution in Slovene natural and cultural development.

Lipizzaners

Lipizzaner is Slovenian indigenous breed which dates back to Middle Ages. Breed has always been famous throughout the world while it is a cultural pride in Slovenia. Lipizzaner is an elegant and noble horse that grows up to the middle sized horse. Horses are good in learning elements of classical dressage as well as for carriage drawing or horseback riding. The horse has a lively temperament and is well teachable. The breed is also fruitful and long life. One of the main facts of Lipizzaner is that horses are born black while they become white with years growing.

Human fish - Proteus

Human fish, also known under the Latin name Proteus, is amphibian which lives in caves of Dinaric Karst. We can find Proteus in Slovenia, Croatia, and Herzegovina. Human fish is a symbol of Slovenian natural heritage. Both Slovenian and foreign scientists together with the general public adore this mysterious inhabitant of the Karst underground. Mostly because of a human fish and also because of other rare species, the Postojna Cave is a cradle of speleobiology as a scientific discipline.

Carniolan honey bee

Carniolan bee is world-famous native breed whose breeding started in Slovenia. In addition to our country, we can find the bee also elsewhere in the world as such Austria, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Germany and more. Slovenian indigenous breed is today the most widespread bee breed in the world. The bees belong to the more subdued breed with the main purpose to obtain honey and other bee products.

Soča trout

The Soča trout is one of the main features of animal life in Slovenia. The fish lives in fresh waters of Soča river and its tributaries. Some trout can also be found in the Adriatic Sea basins. Smaller trout are kept in groups, while the larger are hermits. Trout are especially recognizable by their distinctive marbled pattern on its back and head, and by their long cylindrical body. Adult trout are predators and feed by other fish, but smaller live from plants, insects and plankton.

Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle is one of the better-known predatory birds on the planet. Adult animal can have a wing span over 2 meters thus presents the largest bird that lives in Slovenia. Mountain eagles are predators, the hunt mostly other birds and small mammals. Eagles nest primarily in areas of steep mountains, which are well protected from their predators. Expert' estimate that Slovenia is home of about 25 eagle pairs – the breed is highly protected.

Brown Bear

Brown bears can be found in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. According to experts we can find approximately 450 brown bears in Slovenia. The largest group of bears are kept in Kočevje old-growth-forest. As bears elsewhere in the world, also Slovenian ones are facing harsh conditions of life. Notwithstanding the large habitat, the rich food is not easy to find.

Karst Shepherd

Karst Shepherd is a medium in sized breed, primarily known for its pastoral character. Dogs have a thick and luxuriant gray hair, about 4 inches long. Historical records show that Karst Shepherd's traces data way back in time – famous Slovenian Janez Vajkard Valvasor already mentioned this breed in one of his books. After years of successful breeding, the Shepherd was almost extinct after the Second World War. Somehow professionals managed to multiply the number of dogs on a satisfactory level.

Slovenian sheep

Sheep breeding together with sheep products is a traditional culture in Slovenia. The most popular areas for breeding are mountain valley or plateaus where these animals have unlimited surface and the right climate. In the last couple of years we can argue that the number of sheep and shepherds increased. Breeding an indigenous breed such as Slovenian sheep is without any doubt the right way to preserve the culture.

Alpine Ibex

Ibex is a mountain animal that lives in the Alps. In Slovenia we can find it in the Julian Alps, Kamnik-Savinja Alps and Karavanke. The animal was almost extinct but the group of scientists managed to settle it back several years ago. Ibex can live up 17 years and weighs up to 100 kg.

Krškopolje (Blackbelted) pig

Krškopolje (Blackbelted) pig is the only preserved Slovenian autochthonous breed of pig. The breed's beginnings are in Krško valley, on the edge of Dolenjska and Štajerska regions. By the mid-19th century, the region was dominated by long, hanged ear, almost black or striped pigs. Few of them were short with upright ears. Krškopolje pig is first mentioned and described in details in the early 20th century. Today's breed of Kraškopoljski pig is slightly different in colour and shape, but the meat is of better quality.