The animals of the Park

The bear is considered as one of the largest land predators. The bear does not fear man, nor does it fear any other animal.

The lynx is an elusive animal. It looks like a great big cat, but this feline is not easy to approach.

The bison has survived the ages. It has fascinated prehistoric man, who tried to capture its impressive curves over and over again with rudimentary cave drawings.

Since time immemorial, the wolf has fascinated mankind. For a long time, wolves were persecuted. It is only in the late 20th century that the desire to protect wolves appears.

Under the wolverine’s cute cuddly bear exterior, lies a ferocious animal, strong and powerful which is why it is nicknamed “the terror of the Great White North”.

The Alpine marmot is a small rodent that lives in the Alpine valleys. It has two pairs of large incisors, on its upper and lower jaw.

The Arctic fox is a cousin of the red fox, but has a thicker, denser fur. Arctic foxes have seasonal camouflage, and their fur changes colour to match the seasons.

The Arctic wolf is an incredibly hardy animal that can survive polar temperatures as low as -70°Celsius thanks to its thick white fur!

The black stork is not as well known as its cousin the white stork. It is a discreet, shy bird that avoids all human contact.

The chamois is nicknamed “the mountain goat”, and has distinctive physical traits adapted to the mountainous areas in which it lives.

The mouflon is a wild sheep that is thought to be the ancestor of domestic sheep. The rams are horned and the horns – that are usually symmetrical - curve as they grow.

The Eurasian eagle-owl is the largest nocturnal raptor in the whole of Europe. Its hunting activity is focused in the first few hours after sunset and the first few hours after sunrise.

The fallow deer is native to Asia minor and was introduced to Europe as a game animal and also to adorn and populate ornamental parks. In the wild, its population is quite small.

The forest reindeer is an extremely ancient species that has roamed the earth since prehistoric times, several million years ago.

The griffon vulture is a scavenger vulture: it only feeds off the carcasses of dead animals. By being nature’s cleaning crew vultures prevent the spread of diseases generated by putrefying carcasses.

In the early 20th century, two German biologists, the Heck brothers, set upon themselves to recreate the aurochs species and thus created a new species called “Heck cattle”.

The ibex has incredible rock-climbing skills and can scale near-vertical cliffs with ease! It is an extremely agile and supple animal that is capable of performing spectacular jumps.

Originally from Mongolia, Przewalski's horse is the last feral horse and has never been tamed or domesticated by mankind. Extinct in the wild, the species is reintroduced back to its natural habitat.

With its intricate wooden crown, the deer is the King of our Forests. Originally, the deer is a plains animal. Nowadays, it tends to dwell in the forest in order to stay further away from humans.

The domestic reindeer is very similar to the forest reindeer. One notable difference is the fact that the domestic reindeer is farmed by man.

The roe deer is one of the smallest European cervids. It has incredible physcial capabilities; it's a strong swimmer and can cross small or large rivers or canals.

The Sika deer is a small species of deer native to Asia that was introduced to Europe in the 19th century. While the red deer is a timid species, the Sika deer is not afraid of man.

The smooth snake is a small grass snake that – among other countries - lives in Belgium. It is often mistaken for an adder.

The Tarpan is a small-sized horse, with a grey coat and a black mane with blond strands. The original Tarpan is one of the ancestors of the domestic horse!

The white stork is a migratory bird that crosses long distances to winter in Africa. Its wings, with a wingspan of up to a whopping 165 cm, allow it to glide with ease.

Symbol of the the Ardennes, the boar populates its deep forests. Originally a diurnal animal, over the course of years the boar evolved into a nocturnal animal to avoid being disturbed by man.

The yellow-bellied toad is a rare and protected tiny toad. It can be found in Belgium. It is fond of shallow and stagnant water.