Rare Endangered Species
The kri-kri, the local name for a breed of wild goat with a bezoar(Capra aegagrus creticus), are among the symbols of Crete. Distinctively and impressively, theAgrimi (wild) or 'kri-kri' can still be seen in the Samaria National Park, the Lefka Ori or on the islets of Dia. The official protection they have enjoyed for only about 30 years has not prevented their gradual disappearance due to intensive hunting. They remain rather difficult to see, except in gorges or steep areas. The kri-kri, which were imported to Crete, are now only found on this island and for this reason they are considered an endemic species.
The Cretan feral cat, endemic subspecies of the wild cat or fourogatos according to the Cretan dialect, is currently arousing the curiosity of scientists who believed it to be definitively extinct. Its last official trace dates back to 1905: in England, a scientist held two skins of this animal. In 1996, researchers from the Universities of Natural Sciences of Crete and Perugia finally discovered traces of fourogatos
next to Amari; since then it has become a protected animal. It currently lives on Mount Ida and in the Amari Valley. Threatened by the use of pesticides, its survival is therefore far from assured.Pesticides and raptors flying over the island also threaten the akanthopontikos
, the spiny rat of Crete. It is a spiny, almost red or yellow, white-bellied rodent with a grey or brown snout. It feeds mainly on grains, but it is also tempted by snails and insects. A nocturnal animal, very difficult to spot, the Crete rat has not attracted the necessary scientific interest, which makes its survival even more vulnerable. The bearded vulture(Gypaetus barbatus), considered the rarest bird of prey in the Balkans, currently only flies over the skies over Crete. Unfortunately, there are currently only six pairs on the island with the ability to reproduce, making the perpetuation of the species very unlikely. The wingspan is about three metres and the body span is about two metres. It is the only species in the world that feeds almost exclusively on bone. Its technique consists of throwing its prey from a great height so that its bones break. It then attacks the spinal cord first and only then the carcass. The Bearded Vulture's chances of survival are greatly reduced by the bait that farmers place on stray dogs and ravens. At present the main threat is due to the wind turbines that are increasingly being installed in the Cretan mountains.Endangered wildlife
Rabbits and hares are widely hunted in Crete, despite the laws concerning hunting times. Even though there are still a few brown hares, their population has decreased enormously. The same is true for the Cretan frogs, an endemic species, usually living below 100 metres above sea level, whose numbers have dropped after the thoughtless introduction of a species of American toad which feeds on tadpoles, among other things. Rare species are endangered on some beaches, particularly those around Rethymnon, Hania and in the Bay of Messara. These are the beaches where sea turtles come to lay their eggs. As these Caretta caretta turtles are endangered, they have been protected since 1982 by the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece (STPS). Associations for their defence try to raise awareness and funds from tourists.
Resilient wildlife
Reptiles and amphibians are much more numerous in Crete: snakes (mostly harmless, like the cat snake), green toads, lizards, and especially a few chameleons that will delight those lucky enough to come across them. The animals best represented are finally the birds, especially the raptors. They will be seen mostly in spring and autumn. We can see vultures, martens, hawks, golden eagles, buzzards and falcons (peregrines and kestrels). Scare owls and little owls can also be seen. The presence of these birds of prey, which are rarely hunted by humans, is explained by the mountainous nature of the island. Numerous species of birds populate the Cretan sky: warblers, robins, partridges, bluebirds, larks, bee-eaters, creepers, chickadees and pipits. For lovers of beautiful colours, butterflies offer a wonderful spectacle during the warm season. Cretan waters are also rich, especially on the north coast of the island. You can find groupers, swordfish, red mullet, sea bream, sardines but especially octopus, fished with kamaki, a kind of trident and traditional attribute of Poseidon. Without forgetting the dolphins that it is not rare to come across in the waters of the Libyan Sea, or the sperm whales on the south-western tip. The island abounds in amateur and professional fishermen, and the overabundance of fishing and its illegal practice with dynamite is gradually leading to the disappearance of fish and the destruction of the seabed.
Crete: a green island, despite everything
Contrary to popular belief, and thanks to the moisture-laden winds, Crete is quite wooded compared to other islands in the region. In the past, there were vast cedar forests all over the island, but the Minoans and then the Venetians exploited them for construction and navigation purposes. Finally, the Ottomans completed the work of destruction by burning all the remaining forests in which the Cretan resistance took refuge.
Today, the vegetation is composed of Mediterranean forests, bushes and shrubs, including mimosas, Spanish broom, pistachio trees and tamarisk. It is estimated that the flora is composed of more than 2,000 different plant species, of which about 160 are endemic. There are pines and maples in the mountains, and cypress and plane trees on the coast. Oleanders, which bloom from June to August, can be seen along the roads and in the ravines.
The olive tree, whose cultivation dates back to Minoan times, is the tree that dominates the Cretan landscape. Theolive tree of Kavoussi, a village near Ierapetra, boasts to be the oldest olive tree in the world with its 3,500 years of age. Characterized as a "monumental" tree by the SEDIK (Municipal Association of Olive Trees of Crete), it is, by the size and shape of its throne, a real living sculpture. A branch of this tree was used as a crown for the marathon champion of the 2004 Olympic Games. A witness to the passage of time and its long history in Crete, an olive tree estimated to be between 2,000 and 4,000 years old can be found in Pano Vouves, near the village of Vouves, in the municipality of Kolympari belonging to the Hania region. This tree became productive again after being grafted with the "Tsounati" olive tree, a species whose fruits give the best quality of oil. The branches of this olive tree were used for the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008, to create the crowns of winners of the Marathon. Declared a protected natural monument, this olive tree gave rise to the idea of creating the Olive Tree Museum in a nearby old house dating back to the 19th century, another detour that is well worth it.
Another plant was also known in Minoan times and was widely used: flax. It was used in many ways, both industrially (for making cloth) and for food and medicinal purposes (for making cough medicine). The Phoenician juniper(kedros) is found almost exclusively on the island of Gavdos; its essence was exported to Egypt to embalm the dead. Crete is also famous for its incredible lushness in aromatic plants (thyme, sage, mint, dictamus, oregano...) and flowers of all kinds.
The landscape is particularly rich in herbs and pharmaceutical plants like oregano, thyme and labdanum. These abundant wild herbs have been gathered for thousands of years and used to promote healing, especially in the form of medicinal teas. One of them, dictamus or erondas, particularly beneficial for stomach aches and arthritis, was already used by the Minoans. Hippocrates was also aware of its therapeutic benefits and today it is available on the market in powdered or essential oil form.
Finally, the Oriental plane tree, supplanted over the years by the common plane tree, has been used since antiquity as an ornamental or carpentry tree and, above all, for long naps in the shade! The oldest testimony still stands today in the village of Krassi. Declared by presidential decree, in 2011, a monument of nature, this majestic tree is estimated to be over 1,000 years old. Under its foliage, many artists have sought inspiration, among them, according to legend, the famous Greek author N. Kazantzakis. This is the reason why this thousand-year-old tree is known by the name of this writer, native of Crete.
The Cretan flower par excellence remains the orchid. It can be found at sea level as well as at an altitude of 2,000 meters, with a higher density in the mid-mountain. It is present in plant formations as diverse as stony pastures, wastelands ... There are more than 70 species of orchids in Crete, all terrestrial. Most of them are entomophilous, which means that they need insects (mainly wasps and bees) for their fertilization and even go as far as to push the resemblance with their pollinators. Thus the lower petal of the orchid of the genus Ophrys of Crete plays a role of mirror. Prized by researchers, orchids are also very appreciated for the originality of their shapes and colors. Let's also mention the Ambelitsa (Cretan Zelkova) which comes from Asia and grows exclusively in the vicinity of Lefka Ori, around the plateau of Omalos.
Apart from the orchid, from early spring to autumn, wild flowers such as chamomile, poppies, anemones or irises and gladioli cover the whole of Crete with a delicately scented carpet of all colors. In the caves, one can discover rare plants such as chrysanthemums, gladioli and campanulas that grow in the Samaria Gorge.
