The area of the national park is home to an extremely wide variety of animal and bird species.
Rare fauna such as the European brown bear, grey wolf, eagle, owl, Eurasian lynx, European wildcat, and capercaillie can be found there, along with many more common species.

The wider area of the national park is one of the last areas in Europe in which a great number of wild brown bears and wolves can be found.
The rich fauna of the Plitvice Lakes includes some 50 species of mammals.
Scientists have so far discovered 321 different kinds of butterflies, of which 76 are day-flying butterflies, and 245 are nocturnal moths.
Scientists, however, estimate that up until now only about 40 percent of the whole population of butterflies has been identified.
Furthermore, 12 amphibian species, as well as some species of reptiles have been recorded, including the viviparous lizard (Lacerta vivipara), the european green lizard (Lacerta viridis), the dice snake (Natrix tessellata), Vipera berus, Vipera ammodytes and the european pond turtle (Emys orbicularis).

As regards bird species, the Plitvice Lakes rank third among the Croatian national parks for diversity.
Some 157 species have been counted, of which 70 have been recorded as breeding there.
The Plitvice Lakes are also home to many kinds of bats.
Recent findings list about 20 different kinds of bat species, among them the rare species of Plecotus.

Among original species the brown trout (Salmo trutta fario and Salmo trutta lacustris) can be mentioned.
Salmo trutta fario is found mostly in the Upper Lakes, while Salmo trutta lacustris is mainly found in Lake Kozjak.
These species developed in different life conditions independently from each other within the various lakes.

Due to the spreading growth of vegetation at the barriers, allochthonous (species that originate elsewhere and do not belong to this ecosystem) fish species spread quickly and thus endanger autochthonous trout species.
Apart from the trout, common minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) are also found.
As a result of human interference the species salvelinus alpinus and the North American rainbow trout have been introduced to this ecosystem.
Recently, even European chub (Squalius cephalus) and common rudd (Scardinius erythropthalmus), species whose emergence may be attributed to climate change, have been discovered.
The number of crayfish, which were almost extinct, is now again increasing.
Even rare olms (Proteus anguinus) can be found in the karst caves of this region.

Examples of some animals found in the national park:
The area of the national park is home to an extremely wide variety of animal and bird species. Rare fauna such as the European brown bear, grey wolf, eagle, owl, Eurasian lynx, European wildcat, and capercaillie can be found there, along with many more common species.
The wider area of the national park is one of the last areas in Europe in which a great number of wild brown bears and wolves can be found. The rich fauna of the Plitvice Lakes includes some 50 species of mammals. Scientists have so far discovered 321 different kinds of butterflies, of which 76 are day-flying butterflies, and 245 are nocturnal moths. Scientists, however, estimate that up until now only about 40 percent of the whole population of butterflies has been identified. Furthermore, 12 amphibian species, as well as some species of reptiles have been recorded, including the viviparous lizard (Lacerta vivipara), the european green lizard (Lacerta viridis), the dice snake (Natrix tessellata), Vipera berus, Vipera ammodytes and the european pond turtle (Emys orbicularis).
As regards bird species, the Plitvice Lakes rank third among the Croatian national parks for diversity. Some 157 species have been counted, of which 70 have been recorded as breeding there. The Plitvice Lakes are also home to many kinds of bats. Recent findings list about 20 different kinds of bat species, among them the rare species of Plecotus.
Among original species the brown trout (Salmo trutta fario and Salmo trutta lacustris) can be mentioned. Salmo trutta fario is found mostly in the Upper Lakes, while Salmo trutta lacustris is mainly found in Lake Kozjak. These species developed in different life conditions independently from each other within the various lakes.
Due to the spreading growth of vegetation at the barriers, allochthonous (species that originate elsewhere and do not belong to this ecosystem) fish species spread quickly and thus endanger autochthonous trout species. Apart from the trout, common minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) are also found. As a result of human interference the species salvelinus alpinus and the North American rainbow trout have been introduced to this ecosystem. Recently, even European chub (Squalius cephalus) and common rudd (Scardinius erythropthalmus), species whose emergence may be attributed to climate change, have been discovered. The number of crayfish, which were almost extinct, is now again increasing. Even rare olms (Proteus anguinus) can be found in the karst caves of this region.
Examples of some animals found in the national park:
Plitvice Lakes National Park