Wildlife

Many of the species found in Sardinia are rare or make their habitat in small areas far from those populated by man and so have not been driven away like in other regions of Europe. Species of particular importance that lived in Sardinia in the past but have now been driven to extinction are the bear, the lynx, the wolf, the crocodile, the elephant, two species of monkey and the wild horse.
The mouflon (ovis musimon) or wild goat can still be found on the island, because it appeared more recently and survived the adverse weather conditions; this mammal is considered the symbol of Sardinia.
 Originally from Corsica and Sardinia the mouflon has been successfully exported to national parks throughout Europe, though in Sardinia it still lives wild in the mountains of Gennargentu and Ogliastra but its numbers are dwindling, therefore it is a protected species.
Other ungulates are the Sardinian deer (cervus elaphus), a very rare example; the wild boar that despite illegal hunting, seems to survive well; the buck (dama dama) completely disappeared but reintroduced into the forests of Montarbu and Seui.
To complete the family of rare mammals, there is the monk seal (monachus monachus) which, some time ago, dominated the waters of Ogliastra. The little we know of them is derived from direct observation when, once a year, in the mating season or the period in which they shed their skin, the monk seal shelters on the coastline. They prefer to produce their young in well-hidden places such as the coves of Bue Marino (Dorgali) found along the coast. Nowadays their numbers are greatly reduced last seen several years ago also in the coves of Baunei.
 More common mammals on the island are the Sardinian hare (lepus capensis); the fox (vulpes ichunusae); the weasel (mustela nivaris); the marten (martes martes); the wildcat (felis silvestris); the wild rabbit(orychtolagus cuniculus); the dormouse (glis glis) and the common hedgehog (erinaceus europeaus). Of the amphibians the endemisms are the Sardinian triton (hydromantes genei); the euprocto (euprocto sardo). Of the reptiles there is the sea turtle (careta careta) which inhabits the Mediterranean and lays its eggs on our beaches. Of the serpents, one species which is only found in Sardinia is the natrix natrix cetii. With regards to the bird life, there is the pink flamingo that nests on the lake of Molentargius (Cagliari), the only place in the whole of Europe.
In Ogliastra one of the richest habitats for wildlife is the lake of Tortolì, where it is possible to admire thousands of aquatic birds, for example the grey heron, the dwarf heron, the royal gull, the aquatic pullet and the swamp falcon
Among the reeds the splendid sultan hen makes its home. Other examples of bird life are the royal eagle (in danger of extinction), the peregrine falcon, the gryphon , the owl, the wood pigeon, the Sardinian partridge that despite hunting is still present on the island and finally the queen falcon that gives its name to the coastline between Cala Goloritzè and Monte Santo called in fact the falcon's roost.