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The international importance of the Kalkalpen National Park is, from the perspective of the EU nature conservation directives, highly significant. A total of 22 habitat types, including eight that are priority, have been nominated for this Natura 2000 area. The bird fauna is represented in appendix I with 19 species. As for the other animals, several other subsequent nominations are planned, with special reserves to be designated for their conservation. Priority species, i.e. endangered species for which the European Community bears special responsibilities, include the brown bear, the alpine long-horned beetle, and the bear moth. With respect to the alpine long-horned beetle, which has become extremely rare throughout Central Europe, experts estimate that throughout Austria, a good population may possibly exist only in the region of the Kalkalpen National Park.
On the current list of the most endangered vertebrate species compiled by the EU program, "Stop the loss of biodiversity by 2010", are also two bats native to the national park, the lesser horseshoe bat and the barbastelle. First mapping results indicate a considerable population. As a consequence, Kalkalpen National Park would represent a very important refuge for these two species that are severely endangered throughout the world.
Concerning the Alpine region, the high number of so-called Eastern Alpine Endemites is impressive. This also applies to local endemites, which exist exclusively in the national park and its close surroundings. For the protection of these species, the national park bears absolute responsibility.
So far, almost ten species have become known, and they are all found in the small alpine region of the Sengsengebirge as well as in the underground ravine and cave systems including the outlets of springs: a cave ground beetle and two species of snails as well as several species living in the small alpine region of the national park such as the Leistus austriacus beetle, the Otyorynchus schaubergeri weevil, and two other mollusk species. From a national perspective, the substantial population of yellow-bellied toads, white-backed woodpeckers, and Apollo butterflies is noteworthy. In addition, since 1999 the occurrence of the lynx has been confirmed as well as evidence of a population of indigenous river trout, which is the only known occurrence in Upper Austria.
The return of the wilderness is moving forward at a rapid pace. Once highly repressed species, such as the fungus beetle which lives only on tree mushrooms on decaying, deadwood and thus requires virgin forest-type conditions, or the five local species of stag beetles, which live on dead, thick, deciduous wood, are being seen more frequently today. The quiet which has been restored to the area is also taken advantage of by particularly delicate species, such as the golden eagle, of which there are currently at least three breeding pairs in the national park.
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