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Scotland's wildlife is typical of the north west of Europe, although several of the larger mammals such as the lynx, brown bear, wolf, elk and walrus were hunted to extinction in historic times. There are important populations of seals and internationally significant nesting grounds for a variety of seabirds such as gannets. The golden eagle is something of a national icon.
Flora and fauna
Scotland's wildlife is typical of the north west of Europe, although several of the larger mammals
such as the lynx, brown bear, wolf, elk and walrus were hunted to extinction in historic times. There
are important populations of seals and internationally significant nesting grounds for a variety of
seabirds such as gannets. The golden eagle is something of a national icon.
On the high mountain tops species including ptarmigan, mountain hare and stoat can be seen in
their white colour phase during winter months. Remnants of the native Scots pine forest exist and
within these areas the Scottish crossbill, the UK's only endemic bird species and vertebrate, can be
found alongside capercaillie, wildcat, red squirrel and pine marten. In recent years various animals
have been reintroduced, including the whitetailed sea eagle in 1975, the red kite in the 1980s, and
more recently there have been experimental projects involving the beaver and wild boar. Today, much
of the remaining native Caledonian Forest lies within the Cairngorms National Park and remnants of
the forest remain at 84 locations across Scotland. On the west coast, remnants of ancient Celtic
Rainforest still remain, particularly on
peninsula in Argyll, these forests are
rare due to high rates of deforestation
Scottish history.
the Taynish
particularly
throughout
The flora of the country is varied
incorporating
woodland and
both deciduous and coniferous
large scale
moorland and tundra species. However,
management
commercial tree planting and the
of upland moorland habitat for the
grazing of
sheep and commercial field sport activities impacts upon the distribution of indigenous plants and
animals. The UK's tallest tree is a grand fir planted beside Loch Fyne, Argyll in the 1870s, and the
Fortingall Yew may be 5,000 years old and is probably the oldest living thing in Europe. Although the
number of native vascular plants is low by world standards, Scotland's substantial bryophyte flora is
of global importance.