Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Parrc Na
ula de LlevanttWatch for cormorants and Audouin's gulls
in this rugged promontory north of Artà.
Parrc Na
c Nattuural de la P
al de la Peníínsula de Lle
al de MonddragóFalcons, turtle doves and coastal species are the major
draws here.
Emmbassament de C
c Nattuural de Mo
t de CúúberrIn the shadow of the Puig Major de Son Torrella, watch for
raptors and other mountain species.
Vall de B
querrNear Port Pollença, this rocky valley is home to warblers, Eurasian
Scops owls, red-legged partridges, peregrine falcons, and other predominantly
mountain and migratory species.
Cap de F
all de Bóque
p de ForrmenttorrSpecies on this dramatic peninsula include all manner of
warblers, blue rock thrushes, crag martins, Eleonora's falcons, pallid swifts, mi-
grating raptors and, if you're lucky, the Balearic shearwater.
Wildlife
Mallorca's animal population is fairly modest in both numbers and variety, but this is
more than compensated for by the abundant birdlife which makes the island a major
Mediterranean destination for twitchers.
Land Animals
The most charismatic (and easily visible) of Mallorca's land species is the Mallorcan
wild goat
(Capra ageagrus hircus)
, which survives in reasonable numbers only in the
Serra de Tramuntana, Cap des Pinar and Parc Natural de la Península de Llevant.
Other mammals include feral cats (a serious threat to bird populations), ferrets, rabbits
and hedgehogs. Lizards, turtles, frogs and bats make up the bulk of the native popula-
tions. Lizards thrive on Mallorca's islands due to the lack of human population and intro-
duced species, particularly on the Illa de Sa Dragonera, where they have the run of the is-
land, and the Illa de Cabrera; the latter provides a refuge for 80% of the last surviving
Balearic lizards
(Podarcis lilfordi)
.
You'll also find spiders, more than 300 moth species and 30 kinds of butterflies.
MALLORCA'S PARKS
The creation of protected wildlife areas has helped stabilise Mallorca's wildlife and make it
accessible to visitors. Now a full 40% of the island falls under some form of official envir-
onmental protection.
