Animals in Georgia

Below you can find a complete list of Georgian animals. We currently track 152 animals in Georgia and are adding more every day!

Straddling the line between Eastern Europe and Western Asia, Georgia is a small country located in the mountainous Caucasus region. It is bounded by Russia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, Turkey and Armenia to the south, and the Black Sea to the west.

Within such small territory, there is a remarkable amount of geographic variety and biodiversity, from the subtropical coastline to the fertile plains of the Kolkhida Lowland, where the legendary Argonauts supposedly sought the Golden Fleece. Much of the country is dominated by the Greater and Lesser Caucasus mountains, which run in parallel between the Black and Caspian Seas. Forests and brushlands also coat most of the land.

The Official National (State) Animal of Georgia

While it doesn’t have an official animal, Georgia’s coat of arms is adorned by two golden lions flanking a man on a silver domesticated horse.

Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Georgia

The government of Georgia has set aside dozens of distinctive national parks, nature reserves, and protected landscapes, representing around 7% of the entire landmass, where visitors can catch glimpses of iconic national wildlife.

• The Tbilisi National Park covers nearly a hundred square miles near the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus mountain range. Across three winding trails, visitors can sometimes catch glimpses of red foxes, deer, jackals, lynxes, and even the elusive brown bear.
• The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, which covers more than 400 square miles of central Georgia, is the largest protected area in the entire country. With 12 hiking trails for visitors to explore, this unique park is home to wolves, lynxes, deer, foxes, chamois, bee-eaters, and the black grouse.
• The Javakheti National Park is a transnational protected area that joins together with Armenia’s Lake Arpi National Park on the southern border. Famous for its many lakes, the park is home to various species of local birds, including the pelican, duck, sandpiper, stork, mountain finch, stone sparrow, and hawk.
• The Lagodekhi protected area borders Russia and Azerbaijan in the densely forested northeast. While part of the park is only intended for researchers, the managed nature reserve area contains various trails winding through the alpine forests and waterfalls. The tur, deer, chamois, eagle, vulture, and lynx all live here.
• Finally, the Tusheti National Park is located a mere hundred miles away from Lagodekhi. Some of the most interesting fauna found here are the chamois, golden eagles, falcons, wild goats, wolves, lynxes, kestrels, and harriers.

The Most Dangerous Animals in Georgia Today

Several species of deadly snakes and dangerous carnivores are found in the more remote parts of Georgia.

• Caucasus Viper – Also known as Kaznakov’s viper in honor of Russian naturalist Aleksandr Nikolaevich Kaznakov, this black-colored species is found in ravines and the forested slopes of the Caucasus. When it strikes, this snake delivers a potent and deadly venom. Bite victims always should seek immediate medical attention.
• Caucasian Meadow Viper – This dangerous snake is identified by the grayish-brown body and black patterns on the back. Usually found at higher elevations, this snake delivers a potent venom that travelers should best avoid.
• Eurasian Brown Bear – Despite its fearsome reputation, the brown bear does not usually attack people unless it feels personally threatened or provoked. Hikers should always be on the lookout, however, in order to avoid surprising it.
• Wolves – Georgia is home to the steppe wolf and possibly the Eurasian wolf subspecies. Wolves very rarely attack people because they either fear humans or feel uninterested toward them, but deadly encounters have been known to occur. One curious fact is that the name of the country itself derives from an old Persian term that means land of the wolves.

Endangered Animals in Georgia

The remote landscapes of Georgia are home to many unique species found in few other places. But habitat loss, overhunting, and competition with domesticated animals have endangered some of its natural wildlife.

• Persian Leopard – The Persian leopard once had a historic range that stretched all over the Caucasian region. But extensive trophy hunting and habitat loss have taken their toll on this subspecies. Only a few individuals are known to remain in Georgia.
• West Caucasian Tur – This is a unique species of mountain-dwelling goat-antelopes native to the Caucasus. Now endangered from unrestricted hunting, it is estimated that only 5,000 to 6,000 individuals remain in the wild.
• Caucasus Viper – One of the most dangerous animals in Georgia is also one of the most endangered. Population numbers are in decline from tourism, agriculture, and urban development.
• Bastard Sturgeon – Once abundant throughout the Black and Caspian Seas, it’s believed that a small population may still remain in the Rioni River.

Georgian Animals

Angora Goat

Each adult Angora goat produces about 12 inches of mohair annually while kids have about 8 inches.

Ant

First evolved 100 million years ago!

Armyworm

They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food

Aurochs

Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle!

Avocet

Has a curved, upturned beak!

Badger

Can reach speeds of 30 km/h!

Barn Owl

Found everywhere around the world!

Barn Swallow

Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.

Bat

Detects prey using echolocation!

Beetle

There are more than 350,000 different species

Bird

Not all birds are able to fly!

Black Widow Spider

They typically prey on insects!

Brown Bear

A dominant predator in it's environment!

Bumblebee

The most common species of bee!

Butterfly

There are thought to be up 20,000 species!

Camel Cricket

The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.

Carpenter Ant

Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!

Cat

First domesticated by the Ancient Egyptians!

Caterpillar

The larvae of a moth or butterfly!

Catfish

There are nearly 3,000 different species!

Centipede

There are about 3,000 documented species!

Chamois

Natively found in the European mountains!

Chicken

First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!

Cockroach

Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Common Buzzard

The most common raptor in the UK!

Common Frog

Found throughout the European continent!

Common House Spider

House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.

Common Loon

Also known as the Great Northern Diver

Common Raven

A group of ravens is called an unkindness or a conspiracy.

Common Toad

Most active in wet weather!

Cow

There are nearly 1.5 million worldwide!

Crab

There are 93 different crab groups

Crab Spider

Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings

Crane

Many are critically endangered species!

Deer

There are around 40 different species!

Dog

First domesticated in South-East Asia!

Donkey

First domesticated 5,000 years ago!

Dormouse

Found in Europe, Africa and Asia!

Dragonfly

It's larvae are carnivorous!

Duck

Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!

Dung Beetle

The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight

Eagle

Has exceptional eyesight!

Earwig

There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Edible Frog

Are known to guard the muddy banks!

Eel

Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!

Falcon

The fastest creatures on the planet!

False Widow Spider

False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders

Ferret

Ferrets can be trained to do tricks like dogs!

Fire-Bellied Toad

Found across mainland Europe and Asia!

Fly

There are more than 240,000 different species!

Flying Squirrel

Can glide up to 90 meters!

Fox

There are 12 different species in the world!

Frog

There are around 7,000 different species!

Glass Lizard

Can grow up to 4ft long!

Glow Worm

Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!

Goat

Most closely related to the Sheep!

Golden Oriole

Migrates between Europe and Asia!

Goose

There are 29 different species!

Grasshopper

There are 11,000 known species!

Hamster

Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!

Hare

Can reach speeds of over 40 mph!

Hedgehog

Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!

Heron

Inhabits wetlands around the world!

Highland Cattle

Natively found in the Scottish Highlands!

Honey Bee

There are only 8 recognized species!

Hoopoe

Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!

Horse

Has evolved over 50 million years!

Horsefly

Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.

Human

Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!

Huntsman Spider

Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.

Insects

There are an estimated 30 million species!

Kingfisher

Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!

Ladybug

There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

Lemming

Does not hibernate during the bitter Arctic winter!

Lizard

There are around 5,000 different species!

Locust

Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.

Long-Eared Owl

Ear tufts make it look bigger!

Magpie

They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!

Marsh Frog

Has bright green skin!

Mayfly

There are 2,500 known species worldwide!

Mealybug

They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.

Millipede

Some species have a poisonous bite!

Mole

Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!

Mongrel

Has characteristics of two or more breeds!

Moorhen

Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!

Moth

There are 250,000 different species!

Mouse

Found on every continent on Earth!

Mule

The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!

Neanderthal

Roamed Asia and Europe for around 100,000 years!

Newt

Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!

Nightingale

Named more than 1,000 years ago!

No See Ums

There are more than 5,000 species.

Orb Weaver

Females are about four times the size of males

Otter

There are 13 different species worldwide

Peregrine Falcon

Fastest animal on Earth

Pheasant

Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!

Pig

Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!

Pigeon

They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.

Pika

Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas

Pine Marten

A pine marten can jump from tree to tree similar to a squirrel.

Pond Skater

There are 500 different species!

Pool Frog

The rarest amphibian in the UK!

Porcupine

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Purple Emperor Butterfly

Inhabits deciduous forests!

Puss Moth

Caterpillars squirt formic acid!

Quail

Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!

Rabbit

There are more than 50 different species!

Raccoon

Known to wash their food before eating it!

Raccoon Dog

The only hibernating canine!

Rat

Omnivores that eat anything!

River Turtle

Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!

Robin

There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!

Rodents

The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.

Roe Deer

The roe is one of the most popular game animals in Europe

Salamander

There are more than 700 different species!

Sand Lizard

Males turn green in spring!

Scorpion

There are around 2,000 known species!

Seahorse

Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!

Sheep

Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Shrimp

There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Skink Lizard

Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.

Slow Worm

Found widely throughout British gardens!

Slug

They glide around on one foot, which is aided by the slime they produce

Snail

There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Snake

There are around 3,000 known species worldwide

Snowy Owl

One of the largest owl species in the world!

Spadefoot Toad

They spend most of their time underground!

Sparrow

There are 140 different species!

Spider Wasp

They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.

Squirrel

Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!

Stick Insect

There are more than 3,000 different species!

Stoat

Average adults weigh about 200 grams!

Swan

Populations have been affected by pollution!

Tawny Owl

The most widespread owl in Europe!

Termite

Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!

Thrush

The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.

Tiger Beetle

The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world

Tiger Moth

The bright colors of this moth are a signal to predators that it has a terrible taste.

Tortoise

Can live until they are more than 150 years old!

Tree Frog

Found in warmer jungles and forests!

Turtles

Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.

Vulture

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Wasp

There are around 75,000 recognised species!

Water Buffalo

Has been domesticated for thousands of years!

Water Vole

The largest Vole species in the UK!

Weasel

The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!

Wild Boar

Males have a top tusk to sharpen the bottom one!

Wolf

Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!

Wolf Spider

Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.

Woodlouse

This animal can roll up into a ball

Woodlouse Spider

Unlike most spiders, woodlouse spiders don’t build a web.

Woodpecker

There are 200 different species!

Georgian Animals List