Fauna
The diversity of habitats and the inter-linkage between natural land and cultivated land are the base for the species variety in the animal world. The backcountry of Șinca Nouă shows little fragmentation and serves as an important retreat area and home for all kind of animals, starting from insects all the way up to big mammals.
Insects
Out of the 532 big butterfly species that were identified within the biodiversity study, five are listed in the Annex II of the EU Habitat Directive; their presence alone would justify the creation of a protected area. Especially the hay-meadows around the Maguricea hill and the wet meadows along the forest margins in the Strimba valley are rich in butterflies and with a little bit of luck one can get a glimpse on the Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), Fenton’s Wood White (Leptidea morsei major), the Pallas’s Fritillary (Argynnis laodice), or even the rare Scarce Large Blue (Maculinea teleius).
Regarding beetles we would especially like to point out the impressive Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) that is common all over Transilvania, and the Marbled Rose Chafer (Liocola lugubris),
Amphibians and Reptiles
In moist summers one’s attention is quickly drawn to the presence of the numerous frogs: the concerts of Tree Frog and the water frogs can never out-compete the beauty of the elves-like songs of the Yellow-bellied Toads. The only venomous snake, the Common Adder, can be encountered in higher altitudes.
Birds
Also the bird enthusiast will find his account, especially since the Strîmba basin is part of a Natura 2000 bird sanctuary. Even so waken up by the call of a hoopoe, the night belonged to Corncrake and Scops Owl. Lesser Spotted Eagle, White-backed Woodpecker, Collared Flycatcher, Black Stork, Nightjar, and Ural Owl (Stix uralensis) are only a short excerpt of the wide range of about 100 breeding birds. The vast forests behind Făget Hill are ruled by the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and watching these birds lek is an unforgettable spectacle of nature.
Mammals
The endless, contiguous forests of the Fagarash Mountains that begin in the Strîmba valley offer best living conditions for wildlife, even for the big. Around 25 brown bears (Ursus arctos) roam the hills around Șinca Nouă and foot prints and scats can be seen frequently. While there is a decent chance to get a glimpse on a bear, wolves and lynx are much more elusive.
At twilight the Common Noctules (Nyctalus noctula) oblige with their hunting skills. In addition, we could identify in a first short survey another eight protected bat species. On the side of the small mammals, Fat and Hazel Dormouse are still frequent representatives in the area around Șinca Nouă.
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