Fauna & Flora

On the Crete, it can be found more than 1500 plant species from which about 10% are species endemic, what means these species can be met only here.

Concerning trees: here (in Levka Ori especially) are either forests of different density or single plants of pines and cypresses, in plenty accompanied also by plane-trees (especially in gorges and ravines), furthermore Mediterranean species of oaks (kermes and holly oaks) and also eucalypts (imported from Australia) which can be found, however, under mountains at lower levels. Very known there are endemic Cretan palm trees in a conservation area on the southern coast of the eastern part of Crete but these ones can not be met in Levka Ori.

From the grown wooden plants, they are the most known probably grape-wine and olive trees. Of course, also other cultural trees are grown – citruses, sweet chestnuts, apple trees, pears, and next and next.

In wild, a large part of low shrubs are very aromatic plants, often with small or hairy leaves, such are thyme, sage, oregano, bay laurel and various species of mint. Higher, especially on the places where underground water is available, are sometimes impassable thickets of oleanders, genistas, myrtles, junipers and others which I don’t know. Most of them are prickly. During spring time many bulb plants are in blossom – daffodils, crocuses, orchids, wild tulips, squills and gladiolus, and also others like poppies, peonies, cistus and various species of asters, and also next plants which are known from our rockeries like aubrieta or Acantholimon androsaceum. In late summer or in autumn there are in bloom mountain saffrons and sow-breads. Most of them can be seen e.g. here: http://www.west-crete.com/flowers-crete.htm.

The former CreteaCretan was almost extirpated during ages mainly concerning large animals. There are not beasts here (to tell the truth – I don’t know if some lived there in the past, but maybe lynx could be there because deer lived there certainly – and which beast of prey would hunt them??). Smaller beast of prey lived here until that time – badgers, martens, weasels, of course, a lot of species of rodents, bats… From birds – one can meet vultures, lammergeyers, buzzards, kestrels, and many species of singing birds or near water living birds. As huntable birds are considered partridges which live in dry mountain valleys.

Reptiles are represented above all by various lizards, grass-grass snakes also land and water tortoises, and also turtles can be met. Information concerning the fact if vipers live or not live on Crete widely differs. For those who wish to learn more is this link:

http://www.cretegazette.com/archive/2005-11-snakes.php

A Question in itself, there are wild goats called here “kri-kri”. They are (or rather they should be) the former wild bezoar goats, but in what rate they have interbred with the home goats – it can not say anybody with full responsibility.

The underwater life is not too rich, concerning snorkeling along the coastline under Levka Ori. Maybe more eastward one can meet interesting water species – shells, cuttlefish but under Levka Ori the underwater life is very poor.

Perhaps, something about nature conservation: Greeks are not keen to keep at least the basic rules of nature protection. Everybody can meet horrible mess in the mountains around mitatos (formerly only stone shepherd’s shelter, now often made – at least partly – of concrete). Also along the ways – both dirty mountain's shephard's services roads, and also bitumen roads, margin or hidden places closely out of villages – in all these places can be seen abundance of plastic bottles and bags, canisters from anything, remains of plastic pipes, remains of tins… One can also meet pebbles with black spots on beach which can be created by something – by asphalt or oil which was let out from engines of boats. Very “interesting” is also practice how to liquidate cars (it told me a friend of mine working in Agia Roumeli for almost twenty years): to load them on ferryboat at night, sail farther from the coastline and drop this load into the sea. Perhaps, fuel and other oil are remoted before...; but who knows??

About forest in the mountain: I think that main reason of its poor state is laying deeply in the past. Timbers were used for building of ships but as I have read somewhere, in Venetian age cutting of trees were strictly controlled. However, a change came with Turkish reign when forests were cutting in huge rate which was so high that forests failed to renew themself. And what has still not be done by the man it has been finished by goats which nibble almost each germinating seed. Perhaps just a pine sapling use not to be eaten away. And second big problem is a lack of water. Almost from each water source, water is led away by black plastic pipes and therefore there is not enough water for nature then. This status together with the goats nibbled each germ have caused that Levka Ori can be considered as a mountain desert approximately from summer monts up to the first autumn rains.

And about insects - I'm not very good in it, nevertheless, I can say scorpions are living there because we met one of them in Ilingias Faragi (a gorge) in September, 2011. This "specimen" was quite small and as I've found informations about this species, its sting is not very dangerous (of course, if somebody has no allergy), perhaps, like the sting of a normal wasp.