Natural History
There are populations of Red Deer, Red Squirrel, Badger, Otter, Adder and Common Lizard. Offshore there are Harbour Porpoises, Basking Sharks and various species of dolphin. Davaar is home to a population of wild goats.
Over 200 species of bird have been recorded in the area including Black Guillemot, Eider, Peregrine Falcon and the Golden Eagle. In 1981 there were 28 Ptarmigan on Arran, but in 2009 it was reported that extensive surveys had been unable to record any. Similarly, the Red-billed Chough no longer breeds on the island.
Arran also has three rare endemic species of tree, the Arran Whitebeams. These are the Scottish or Arran Whitebeam, the Cut-leaved Whitebeam and the Catacol Whitebeam, which are amongst the most endangered tree species in the world. They are found in a protected National Nature Reserve, and are monitored by staff from Scottish Natural Heritage. Only 283 Arran Whitebeam and 236 Cut-leaved Whitebeam were recorded as mature trees in 1980. The Catacol Whitebeam was discovered in 2007 and steps have been taken to protect the two known specimens.
Read more about this topic: Islands Of The Clyde
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“To a person uninstructed in natural history, his country or sea-side stroll is a walk through a gallery filled with wonderful works of art, nine-tenths of which have their faces turned to the wall. Teach him something of natural history, and you place in his hands a catalogue of those which are worth turning round.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)
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—Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936)