Valchi Dol Reserve

Overview

Valchi Dol is a reserve located in the Eastern Rhodopes, Bulgaria. It was declared a reserve with a total area of ​​776.24 hectares by Order № 877 of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Council of Ministers of 25.11.1980, in order to preserve the then only colony of griffon vultures in Bulgaria. It is part of Studen Kladenets Protected Area and Studen Kladenets Ornithologically Important Site. Valchi Dol Reserve is the only strict reserve in the Eastern Rhodopes. It is located south of Studen Kladenets Dam, in the lands of the villages of Studen Kladenets, Stari Chal and Boynik, Krumovgrad Municipality, Kardzhali District. The landscape is extremely diverse: rocks, pastures, forests, shrubs. The reserve has a very strong Mediterranean influence on the climate, which has affected the flora and fauna. Its territory includes a variety of habitats.

The predominant shrubby vegetation is represented by dracaena, hornbeam, sagebrush, maple and evergreen shrubs of Mediterranean type with predominant red juniper. In the high parts there are deciduous forests of beech, hornbeam, sessile oak, cer, Virgil oak and hairy oak, and in the lower ridges there are lilac communities.

There is a great species diversity of plants, many of which are rare and endemic. 413 species of higher plants have been identified, of which 1 Bulgarian and 6 Balkan endemics. One species of plant is endangered, and 14 species are rare, included in the Red Book of Bulgaria. There are also 27 species of orchids, the most beautiful of which are the purple salep and the underdeveloped limodorum. Especially interesting is the Rhodope Silivryak, which is a Balkan endemic and a Tertiary relic. Apart from being "Orpheus flower", which is associated with an ancient legend, it is also known as the "phoenix" because of its ability to stay dry for more than 2 years and after being placed in proper conditions to restore its vital functions.

There is an exceptional variety of birds of prey in Valchi Dol. 23 species have been identified, of which 21 are included in the Red Book of Bulgaria. Here are found Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, White-tailed Buzzard, Kerkenes, Black Stork, Raven, Owl, Rock Mason, Blue Rock Thrush, Spanish Stonemason, Great Olive Mockingbird, Little Black-headed Nettle, Red-breasted Black-headed Gull, . The area is an important place for food and rest for the black vulture and the golden eagle, which are globally endangered.

The griffon vulture, which is one of the rare and endangered birds, deserves special attention. In 1978, the first naturally returned colony of griffon vultures in Bulgaria was discovered on the huge Kartal Kaya rock. In the vicinity of the reserve there is a special site for feeding the vultures and a building has been made for their observation.

There is a great variety of reptiles and amphibians. They are represented by 21 species, including snake lizard, slender archer, mouse snake, worm snake, concave-headed snake, yellow-bellied snake.

Large mammals include wolf, wild boar, roe deer, red deer and fallow deer.