Imagine the size of this natural reserve. Transylvania in Central Europe is about 40,000 square miles and has about 7 million inhabitants thinly spread over a heavily forested wasteland. It sprawls between Ukraine, Hungary and Serbia.
It’s wild and wonderful. Various predators, large and small, thrive here. They have room to roam and plenty to eat.
Take the lynx, for example. A stealthy and surefooted stalker, it will not be denied its daily portion. Afterward, it licks its chops with a satisfied sparkle of glee in its gemlike eyes.
Almost half of Europe’s brown bears live here. Spring cannot come soon enough for them. In the high country, heat finally punches through. And flowers burst into life.
After grazing for weeks, its mind passes on to other matters. But first, it must conquer the competition. Finicky females lay back well away from the fray, observe the brawl; and take its pick of the pack. Mating season lasts from April until June.
White storks come thousands of miles from Africa. The males arrive first. The boss arrives at her own pace. They are delighted to see each other. Their animated reunion is an unabashed celebration. Storks may live for 20 years. They mate for life in a powerful bond.
Nations fought and died over this land, making waste of the countryside. Vlad the Impaler skewed 20,000 Turks. The air is still filled with the dying screams of the tormented victims. Their corpses are buried in unmarked graves as a grim reminder of the senseless conflicts.
The wildflowers are world famous for their complexity and diversity. There are no chemical fertilizers here. It all happens naturally. About 200 kinds of butterflies are farmed here. They live for only a few weeks. Then they are gone.
Hungry birds are never far away from the very many bees. Fowls know that even dead bees can still be dangerous. So wary cranes, ducks and storks adroitly remove bee stingers before they gulp the bees down as tasty morsels.
Pretty little girls still pick wildflowers and do circle dances in the Spring. They still weave their floral crowns in celebration of life.
Bats swarm here. They bunch tightly together, stinking up the place. But even their dung serves a purpose. Just ask the Shelta Cave crayfish. This scavenger’s very existence depends on this “delicacy.” At night bats hunt, performing a more obvious benefit to man by preying on tens of thousands of insects.
Once their giant ears lock-in on a prey, victims have little chance of escape. Keep very still and you might just survive to spend another night in the forest.
In this vast retreat there are 12,000 caves, perfect hideaways. Charcoal drawings remain from many thousands of years ago. Animals, large and small, adorn cave walls and ceilings.
Bison are back in Transylvania, home to the wilds. They have been reintroduced by local conservationists and bring new life to these ancient forests.
Lynx are stealthy, patient and hungry. Birds, however, sound the alarm. The hoodoos have a distinct appearance and sound. They live in hollow trees. There they care for their chicks.
Their headdress is amazing. Soon chicks are ready for their maiden flight. How they need strong wings. Mom soon tires of the chicks constant begging for food. The big bill is a tricky weapon to master. It’s like eating with chop sticks.
Nearly five months old, cubs are daily growing bolder. They practice scrimmages for strength. How else will they become skilled warriors?
They learn much from their mother. Their future depends on vital lessons they learn now.
The storks care for four large chicks in a nest. Busy parents work around the clock to keep the chicks fed and content. Storks are not picky eaters. They store food in its gut for the chicks to dine on regurgitated cuisine, not for everybody. Dinner is not an elegant affair. It’s a tiring and relentless routine until mid afternoon when the flock finally takes a break.
The chicks can mind themselves until another day dawns.
The story of humans here goes back many aeons. There were some islands in this ocean of trees. Vast herds of bisons and deer roam about. Some oaks trees are 800 years old.
The dune-bug has lived five years underground. Now, above land, it will live only five months. But first it must find a mate. First, there is the nasty matter of killing off the competition with its large prong-like jaws.
It’s massive jaws prevent him for eating properly. He will not live to the end of summer.
Mature male bears will kill the cubs of another bear on sight. He wants to add their mother to his harem and sire his own cubs. Frightened cubs flee and cling to treetops. Then there is the tricky matter of navigating down to earth.
Beavers are back in Transylvania. It’s been two hundred years since they inhabited these parts. Beaver dams form new ponds, slow down rivers and reduce floods. Engineering marvels create whole new worlds of life.
The stork chicks are almost ready to leave their tiny home. Daily, their wings grow stronger. Finally the moment comes. Thus they fly away. First to nearby rooftops. Then to remote trees. Finally, the winds will carry these young adults across two continents.
In autumn Transylvania puts on her finest show. Most of the wild woods is unprotected. Pressure mounts to establish a National Park to preserve this grassland.
For bears, this is a critical time. They must build up their fat reserve. Winter comes on apace. Plums are a specialty here. Bears love them. So do birds.
Slowly winter wraps its cloak over Transylvania. Snow here is a protective cover. The fox is the apex hunter. There is no counting of them. They are elusive and secretive. But their presence here is priceless.
One of natures greatest survivors is the red fox. Dinner may conceal itself under the snow, but not for long. It’s ears are keen. The fox listens to subterranean heartbeats. Soon moles are detected, ferreted out and eaten.
Lynx is the lone predator. Males leave scent marks throughout the territory. Females sniff them out, follow the trail and unite. Her time with the male is brief; for her biological clock never stops. Soon its on to the next phase of life: mothering.
This is one of the continents last great wonderlands. There is nothing else like it. A unique world of legends and forests.
Who made order out of the wilds?
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