Skopelos Visitors
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Domesticated Animals
- Skopelos Goat: The island has it own acknowledged breed of
goat named the "Skopelos". The Skopelos goat is one breed in the
Southern Multicolored Group. It is a relative of the wild goat of the
island of Gioura. The main occurrences of this species are in Skopelos,
Alonissos, and Skiathos. Skopelos Goat, by EEAAP / Animal Genetic Data
Bank
- Skopelos Sheep: Sheep herds on the island belong to a
distinctive group called the "Skopelos Sheep" breed. Prolific dairy
sheep breeds in Greece
Birds
Skopelos has a variety of fauna - including about 60 species of wild
birds-native and migratory. There are several birds of prey, most
common are the Eleonora's Falcon (Falco Eleonorae), the European Scops
Owl (Otus Scops) and the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo). Also kestrels,
eagles, and vultures can be seen. Very obvious throughout the island is
the Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix). Occasionally Grey Herons and
kingfishers and more commonly the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax
carbo), the Herring gull (Larus argentatus) and the Yellow-legged Gull
(Larus michahellis) are seen along the coast. Severe winter weather can
introduced rarely seen mainland birds temporarily. In March 2007 the
Municipal Authorities cleaned a wetland habitat near the town beach at
the outlet to the sea of Skopelos' only permanently flowing stream. The
area had been home to frogs and the birds that fed on them. A large
section of the area surrounding and including Mt. Palouki is posted as
a no-hunting zone by the Skopelos Hunters Association. Bird species
missing from other parts of the island such as the Common Pheasant
(Phasianus colchicus) have flourished in the protected area.
Mammals
The Northern Sporades are one of the prime breeding areas of the
Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) an endangered species. The
main threat to Monachus monachus is man and his activities. It is
deliberately killed or accidentally caught in fishing equipment, and
its food sources are being reduced. In addition, marine pollution and
uncontrolled tourism are causing the destruction of its natural
habitat. The establishment in 1992 of the National Marine Park of
Alonnissos-Northern Sporades was an effort to protect this species by
restricting human encroachment on seal breeding areas. Wild land
mammals include Pine Martens (Martes martes), Brown Rats (Rattus
norvegicus) and mice, the Southern White-breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus
concolor), bats and, though declining in numbers, European Hares. A
mating pair of Fallow Deer (Dama dama) have been privately reintroduced
to the island. An evolving population of feral cats exists in and
around areas of human habitation.
Reptiles
The island is home to a variety of reptiles. The Balkan Terrapin
(Mauremys rivulata) can be found near fresh water along with the Greek
Marsh Frog (Pelophylax kurtmuelleri) though this habitat is slowly
disappearing due to development. The Balkan Wall Lizard (Podarcis
taurica) is seen regularly in daylight in warm weather and the
Hemidactylus turcicus at night. A larger lizard is the Balkan Green
Lizard (Lacerta trilineata). Several varieties of snakes can be
observed: the Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus), the Leopard
Snake (Elephe situla), the Large Whip Snake (Coluber jugularis), the
Grass Snake (Natrix natrix), and the Viper (Viperidae ochia).
Amphibians
In or near or fresh water there is sometimes found the Balkan Frog
(Pelophylax kurtmuelleri) and the European tree frog (Hyla arborea).
Near or away from water there are Common Toads (Bufo bufo).
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