ARCTUROSENDANGERED ANIMALS

Enviromental center in Greece

Brown bear (Ursus arctos)

The brown bear is the bear species with the wider population distribution worldwide. Until recently, the species distribution covered most of North America, including northern Mexico, Europe, Asia, Middle East and North Africa.  However, today the brown bear lives only in northwestern North America, Europe and the largest part of northern Asia.

The brown bear in Greece

The population of brown bears in Greece is estimated at 350-400 approximately. They live in two independent populations, who do not communicate geographically. The largest population lives in the area of Pindus mountain range and belongs to the population of the Dinaric Alps mountain chain. The second lives in the area of Rhodope mountain range and belongs to the population of the Rila mountain range in Bulgaria. In recent years there is consistent evidence of bear presence in the Olympus/Voras mountainous axis, and in central Greece up to the mountainous district of  Nafpaktos, where the species had been absent for the past 70 years.

Did you know that…

The brown bear is the only bear species living in continental Europe and it is the second largest bear species in the world (polar bear is the first).

Adult male bears in Greece usually weigh 150-200kg and have an average total length of 200cm and shoulder height of 110cm.

Female bears in our country are smaller and usually weigh around 100kg.

During fall, a bear in Greece can travel over 180km in search of food.

The brown bear is an omnivorous animal. The proportion of plants and fruit in the diet of bears in our country exceeds 85%!

The bear does not attack humans unless they feel that their young cubs or themselves are at risk.

The cubs when they are born weigh only 200-300g!

Threats

The two main threats to the brown bear in Greece are its intentional or accidental killing, as well as its habitat fragmentation and distinction. Apart from poaching, the species is threatened by the wide use of poisoned baits. The fragmentation and distinction of bear habitat in our country is primarily caused by human intervention (construction of major roads, e.g. Egnatia Motorway, illegal logging, forest fires, excessive construction of forest roads, construction of dams and wind turbines).  Direct consequence of the road network density and increasing vehicles is the large number of traffic accidents involving bears. The fact that from 2003 onwards more than 30 bears have been killed in traffic accidents is indicative of the problem.

Golden jackal (Canis aureus)

Belongs to the canidae family and it can be found in Europe (mainly in the Balkans), Asia and Africa. It is a medium-sized mammal that despite of its bad reputation, 50% of its diet consists of plants and fruits. The other half of its diet consists of carrion and small animals, such as amphibians, fish, snails, mice, rabbits, insects, birds and sheep. The jackal had a very important role in the mythology of Ancient Egypt (Anubis, god of the afterlife was half jackal) and there are references in Greek mythology as well!

Jackal in Greece

In Greece, there is an estimated population that does not exceed 1500 units.  These are limited to isolated populations in eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Halkidiki, the coastal zone of Fokida, Peloponnese, Samos and at Kerkini lake and Axios river, in smaller groups.  Jackal was hunted massively from 1974 to 1980, when according to official figures more than 7,000 were killed.

Did you know that...

It is considered an opportunistic hunter because it prefers food of human source, such as garbage with food remains, and dead animals.

Until 1990, jackal was classified as a harmful species.It acts as a ‘cleaner’ of nature, because it feeds on

rodents and generally animals that damage crops, it reduces organic waste and prevents disease transmission by removing garbage and dead animals.

It uses natural nests, such as rock cavities or even nests of other animals!

It has very acute smell and hearing that help it locate small preys.

Threats

The main reason for the dramatic decline in jackal’s population is hunting. It is the only medium-sized mammal that has been so rapidly reduced in Greece in recent years. However, other human interventions and habitat destruction due to fires, have also contributed significantly to the reduction of the species.  

FOTINI KOULOUMPI

IOANNA SOROVOUGEORGE SIACHOS

Thanks for watching