A bear cub only a few months old, which had not yet been separated from its mother, was shot and killed by a poacher in the Radosi area, near the Sour Water of Florina! In fact, next to the dead bear were found fresh traces of an adult animal, probably from the mother bear that was with him.

The animal was spotted by a local breeder, who informed “Arcturos” and his representatives rushed to the scene, examined the animal and found that it had two gunshot wounds, one through the abdomen and one through the chest. The Forest Service of Florina was immediately notified, whose representative went to the area.

According to a statement from the environmental organizations “Arktouros” and “Kallisto”, this is another serious crime against biodiversity, while a year ago, in the wider area, unknown persons had killed three more bears.

It is noted that during this period, in the Amyntaio region, the two organizations participate in the European project “LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors”. It is an international collaboration between the Netherlands, Italy and Greece, with the aim of conserving the brown bear populations in Central Italy and Greece, by maintaining and ensuring the functionality of important corridors of movement and connection of the bear populations and the creation of “smart communities of coexistence” » of people and bear.

The bear is strictly protected by Greek and EU legislation and is a valuable species of our natural wealth and cultural heritage, with an important role in the functioning of the forest ecosystem. The two organizations call on the competent authorities not to underestimate the importance of this event and to proceed immediately with extensive investigations to identify the perpetrator.