The bear population has increased in Greece

Rural people's relationships with wildlife such as bears, wild boars and foxes are often problematic.

Despite the fact that specialist scientists admit that the existence of these species on the territory somehow “certifies” the relatively good state of forest, mountain and rural ecosystems. However, what happens when for some reason the balance is upset and animals such as bears are found even in cities?

Publishing numerous photos and videos on social networks in which bears and their cubs are walking in the villages of Korisos and Dispilio in Kastoria, local authorities have mobilized. The presence of a mother bear with four cubs in the Korisos area made an indelible impression. The photo shows them feasting on cherries in a residential garden located on the territory of the village.

The Deputy Governor of Kastoria, Dimitris Savvopoulos, apparently alarmed by the repeated sightings of bears in populated areas, sent an urgent letter to the Minister of Environment Thodoros Skilakakis requesting the help of the ministry's services through supervised organizations to combat the above-mentioned incidents.

“We informed the Minister of the situation we are faced with, that there is a danger to the lives of residents when such large animals are circulating in populated areas, and requested that measures be taken to resolve this problem“, says Mr. Savvopoulos, arguing that, at the initiative of the state, a program should be launched that will manage the bear population. As the numbers show, the number of individuals has increased significantly.”

The deputy governor brought up the issue of sterilization of animals for discussion as a measure to control the reproduction of livestock, “so as not to reach situations that may become uncontrollable in the future.”

Mr Dimitris Moschos from Policarpi Kastoria, owner of the family farming business “Farm Moschos”, where a bear has repeatedly destroyed the corn in his field, told APE-MPE journalists that he is concerned about the heavy presence of bears in coastal villages: “Bears go down to the lake in search of food, and its source is a corn field, especially in the season when there are not enough cherries, cranberries and wild fruits.V”.

Dimitris Moschos is 60 years old, comes from a farming family, and, as he reports, the bear population in the habitat where his village is located has nothing in common with the past. “As small children, we knew that there were one or two bears and a cub with them roaming our area. Today the picture is completely different. There are many animals here, and mother bears also have three or four cubs, which has never happened before“, says the old-timer.

The above-mentioned fact is also confirmed by Mr. Nikos Panagiotopoulos from the Kastoria Environmental Society, who notes that “in recent years, it has become increasingly common to see mother bears with three or four cubs,” as captured by surveillance cameras placed in various parts of the Kastoria plain around the lake and beyond. outside of it.

“Many female animals with their cubs move around populated areas, and at the same time, some males move alone in search of females,” explains the expert, adding that females, in an attempt to protect their cubs from large males, are moving closer and closer to populated areas. The number of brown bears in Greece today has reached 750 individuals.

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