Valley of the Wolves

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A pristine valley in north-east Poland, is crammed with spectacular wildlife.. It is called the Rospuda valley, that has eagles, wolves and 
orchids. Species which have long been rare or extinct in western European countries, such as lynx, elk, wolf and beaver, along with scores of 
uncommon bird species, from eagles to corn crakes, still have substantial populations in the 10 central and eastern European nations which 
have recently joined the EU. But the pressure of economic growth is so strong that they are now planning to run motorway right through it, 
and leading up to the Baltic States.

The Raspuda valley combines the vast extent of ancient forests, some of which are still primeval – meaning they have never been cut down and 
replanted – and the wetlands. The Rospuda river flows through the ancient Augustow Forest near Poland’s border with Lithuania, one of the 
most pristine forest regions in all of Europe; and the river’s course is bracketed by a peat bog which is astonishingly rich in mammals, rare 
birds, plants and insects. The protected species of bird’s range from the white-tailed, short-toed and lesser-spotted eagles, through the 
black grouse and the capercaillie, to the corncake, the crane and the great snipe