A rich fauna
A number of animal species that are on the brink of extinction, or even extinction in the rest of Europe, still live happily in the Baltic States: wolves, lynxes and bears. When hunting was banned in the 1990s, the number of wolves fell to 500. For animal and nature lovers, the Baltic States are the perfect destination.
Here, you can observe the brown bear in particular, which almost became extinct because of its success with hunters from the West. To see them, head for the Viru forest in Estonia. After the war, there were almost 30 of them, but now there are around 1,000, half of them in this protected area. Their population is the third largest in the European Union, behind Sweden and Finland. Unusually, during the spring 2020 confinement due to the health crisis, bears roamed freely in Tallinn, the Estonian capital.
Deer are the most abundant animal in Estonia, and are often seen in fields and on forest edges in the early hours of the morning. Moose are more shy and stealthy, and often only their tracks are visible.
Raccoons and beavers, which are essentially nocturnal animals, are also difficult to observe, but you will often see a tree that has passed between their teeth!
Estonia is also one of the last bastions of the European mink, replaced everywhere by the larger, more aggressive American mink. There are only around a hundred individuals of this species left in Europe, most of them in Estonia and on the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. Financed by Tallinn Zoo, a major reintroduction operation for the European mink was launched across the country in 2000.
Estonia's most secretive animal, however, is the flying squirrel. An estimated 200 flying squirrels are concentrated in the east of the country, and even the scientists who study them admit to seeing only one a year on average.
This range of mammal species is complemented by a highly varied population of amphibians, reptiles (particularly in the bogs and marshes) and birds.
Horse-riding enthusiasts will be interested to know that the stallion Trakehner is a native of Kaliningrad. His breeding dates back to the Prussian regime in the 18th century.
As for lakes and rivers, the very low level of water pollution and a complete ecological chain, right down to the large predators, are conducive to the presence of numerous European species of freshwater fish, crustaceans and molluscs, which have become quite rare in Western or Southern Europe.
Bird lovers, welcome to stork country! In Latvia, it is estimated that over 25,000 white storks and at least a thousand black storks nest here. The bird is sacred in many songs - a symbol of fertility and good luck. A little anecdote: in 2015 - the tenth anniversary of the Latvian black stork protection plan - the country issued a €2 coin with the symbol of a black stork standing on its nest. Since 1973, the stork has been Lithuania's national bird, and there's an old saying that "where there's a stork's nest, there's bound to be honest people".
The seal: a threatened species
The seal, on the other hand, has once again become a prey for hunters, much to the displeasure of conservation organizations, due to the Estonian government's recent willingness to accede to the demands of many islanders, particularly those on Kihnu. On this island, the inhabitants put forward their culinary tradition and dishes based on grey seal to justify the request to hunt them. In 2022, the grey seal population has grown from 1,500 to 6,031 in recent years.
Since 2014, seal hunting has been permitted, but highly regulated with a quota set for each year. Despite these measures, the government's initiative remains unclear to many Estonians.
National parks
Many regions of the Baltic States boast vast natural parks, which are a must for travellers: Gauja National Park in Latvia, Lahema National Park east of Tallinn, Aukštaitija National Park north of Vilnius, the Neringa peninsula (Kuršiu Nerija) on the Lithuanian coast, and more. Edible mushrooms and berries carpet the undergrowth, delighting foragers and locals alike, who sell them on the markets, especially in autumn. Between national parks and nature reserves, the Baltic States hold many surprises and beautiful landscapes in store for those who take the time to discover them.
All national parks and nature reserves are strictly controlled, and regulations are imposed on entry, such as those concerning camping, hunting and fishing. As a general rule, always ask for the necessary information at the park entrance before venturing in. Information leaflets, now translated into English and German, are on sale at village information points. Before heading out into the wilderness, it's infinitely more practical to obtain detailed maps from tourist offices.
Lithuania is one of the few European countries to have preserved its clean, wild environment. Made up of large, gently undulating valleys, vast tracts of forest covering almost 30% of the territory and slow-flowing rivers, the country owes much of its beauty to the diversity of its landscapes. Lakes are one of the country's greatest assets, which is why Lithuania is often referred to as "the land of lakes". Five national parks, thirty regional parks and over two hundred nature reserves have been created to protect and study the natural environment. Captivating in their beauty and tranquility, these parks and reserves are a must-see during your stay. Unauthorized camping is prohibited in Lithuania, and sites have been set aside for this purpose, as well as for campfires. Fishing and hunting are also regulated, so be sure to find out more before taking any initiative in this area.
Latvian environmental protection practices go back a long way: the first laws and regulations were enacted in the 16th and 17th centuries. Since then, environmental principles have been applied to forest management, and there are definite restrictions on hunting. In the 19th century, several projects were undertaken to consolidate the dunes along the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Rīga. In the early 20th century, forest areas with cultural, historical or natural values were set aside and safeguarded. The first nature reserve was established in 1912 at Moricsala (an island in Lake Usmas). Today, Latvia boasts four strict nature reserves, three national parks with reserves and restricted areas, one biosphere reserve, 261 nature reserves, 43 nature parks and nine protected landscape areas. The forests include four mini-reserves (sanctuaries) for the protection of rare animal species (mainly birds), plants, lichens and mushrooms. The Latvian Red Book (register of endangered species in Latvia), established in 1977, lists 112 plant species and 119 animal species; this catalog of rare and endangered species is analyzed and updated regularly. More and more plants, animals, invertebrates, fungi and lichens are coming under the protection of national legislation. Latvia has ratified the Washington, Bern and Ramsar international conventions.
Estonia has six national parks, the first being Lahemaa in 1971 and the latest at the end of 2018, Alutaguse. Its flora and fauna are rich. Bears in particular have been growing steadily since the 1950s - unlike in other Baltic countries. Today, between 600 and 700 brown bears inhabit Estonia's forests. Concerned about its ecological footprint, in 2018 Estonia became the first European country to offer free bus travel. The aim: to limit both rural exodus and national consumption of fossil fuels.