Beside its small territory Albania plays an important role to maintain and secure surviving of the large carnivores at the Balkan Peninsula. Its hosts important part of populations of Lynx (Lynx lynx), Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) and Wolf (Canis lupus) that are of great importance for a healthy population of large carnivores, especially in the Western Balkan mountain ecosystems. According to the ‘Strategy for the Conservation of the Balkan lynx in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania’ (2008), the Balkan lynx (Lynx lynx balcanicus) is the most endangered autochthonous population of the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx (Stojanov et alt., 2012). Its present known distribution is restricted to the border area of western “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and eastern Albania, reaching north to the southern rims of Kosovo and Montenegro. Available information indicates that less than 100 individuals remain (von Arx et al. 2004). The Balkan lynx must therefore be considered as Critically Endangered according to the IUCN Red List criteria, making conservation measures very urgent. Its recovery is even more important because it has been described a distinct subspecies already in the 1940s (Lynx lynx balcanicus, Bures 1941) and 1970s (Lynx lynx martinoi, Miric 1978). Historical data on the status and distribution of the carnivores are those offered by the General Directorate of Forestry and Pastures, and the Institute of Forestry and Pasture Research in Albania (Institute is currently part of Agency of Environment and Forestry after the reform of scientific institutions in Albania developed in year 2005) . Other old sources of data on hunting games, including LC (Least Concern) species, provide the publications of Puzanov (Bego, 1999). Following information coming from MoEFWA, the current estimation on bear population in Albania is about 250 individuals. The last figure is the lowest registered in Albania during the last 50 years, and shows a systematic decline of the bear, especially during the last 20-25 years (see the Table 1 and Figure 1) Table 1. Data on brown bear population for Albania
PPNEA - Rr. "Vangjush Furxhi" p.16/sh.1/a.10 , Tirana, Albania - Tel. +355 42256 257 - email. contact@ppnea.org