June 15, 2026, 3:44 p.mJune 15, 2026, 3:44 p.m
After the deaths of three brown bears within a few hours, the Greek environmental protection organization Kallisto has called for the cases to be consistently investigated. Two animals were killed by gunfire and another by poisoned bait, the organization said.
A brown bear in northern Greece.Image: keystone
The weekend’s incidents highlighted the ongoing threats to the protected species in Greece, criticized Kallisto. Killing or injuring a bear is a criminal offense and violates Greek and international protection regulations.
Kallisto called on the authorities to bring those responsible to justice. Encounters between bears and people should not be an excuse for vigilantism. Instead, the responsible authorities would have to be informed so that the planned deployment and protective measures could take effect.
But some residents in northwest Greece are afraid because the bears are now migrating to populated areas as far as the city of Kastoria in search of food. They are attracted to people’s waste, but also to orchards. This is why animals are often killed by private individuals. (hkl/sda/dpa)