Estonia is a small country and areas of unspoiled nature are very rare. Our plants and animals have...
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Transcript of Estonia is a small country and areas of unspoiled nature are very rare. Our plants and animals have...
Estonia is a small country and Estonia is a small country and areas of unspoiled nature are very areas of unspoiled nature are very rare. Our plants and animals have rare. Our plants and animals have
only been developing for about only been developing for about 10,000 years, since the last Ice 10,000 years, since the last Ice
Age, and they are not represented Age, and they are not represented in great variety.in great variety.
FLORA AND FAUNA
Among 61 species of mammals, the Among 61 species of mammals, the
most widespread are:most widespread are:
Wild boar: adult boars weigh by far over 100 kilograms; piglets weigh up to 40 kilograms. The main natural enemy of wild
boars is a wolf. Additional feeding of wild boars is organized year-round.
Roe-deer: Roe deer has been living on the Estonian territory already for almost 10 000 years. Roe deer is a
species that is very attached to its home territory.
One of the biggest mammals: Moose/European elk
Adult animals weigh on the average 300-500 kilograms; the calves weigh around 100 kilograms. Natural enemies of
moose are bear and wolf.
Some endangered speciesSome endangered species represented in small numbers:represented in small numbers:
Brown bear – one of the biggest in our forests.
The only place in the Baltic countries where bears have lived for thousands of years is the forest of Alutaguse.
Lynx - has been living on the Estonian territory since the post-glacial time. The colour of common lynx varies to a great
extent. At present, 500-1000 lynx are counted in Estonia.
Wolf - is very similar to a big German shepherd. It is speculated that at present there are 150-300 wolves in
Estonia. The average weight is 35-45 kilograms.
There are about 300 bird species in There are about 300 bird species in addition to the mammalsaddition to the mammals::
Barn swallow – the national bird of Estonia since 1962
The apple was the only fruit known to ancient Estonians; crab trees (wild apple trees) can still be found in different
parts of the country, mostly on the islands.
The oldest oak trees in Estonia are up to 700 years old, their ‘life expectancy’ may extend to 2,000 years. The region
richest in oaks is Saaremaa.
Rare plants:
Yellow rattlebox - only found at Viidumäe on Saaremaa
Aconitum lycoctonum (kollane käoking) – found near Viljandi