Wildlife
Southern Balkans are wildlife paradise
The population of brown bears is distributed in 2 mountainous zones of Greece: in the massif of Pinde (between 115 and 145 bears) and that of Rhodope (between 20 and 25). A program of protection was set up in the 90s. The led actions are:
Follow-up of the demographic situation
Study of the species and its environment
Protection of its territory (negotiation on the plan
of the highway of the North of Greece)
Education and information of the population, for a knowledge bringing to the respect for this species: communication in schools, with the breeders...
Help to the shepherds: a sheepdog is given to the breeders who wish it to protect their herds.
Follow-up of the demographic situation
Study of the species and its environment
Protection of its territory (negotiation on the plan
of the highway of the North of Greece)
Education and information of the population, for a knowledge bringing to the respect for this species: communication in schools, with the breeders...
Help to the shepherds: a sheepdog is given to the breeders who wish it to protect their herds.
If wolfs lived till the beginning of the XXth century in all the Greek territory, today they do not live more than in the center
and the North of the country. Distributed in approximately 91 packs including some 800 individuals, the population is in increase having fell throughout the XXth century (poaching, poisoning). Favor to a program of protection since the 1980's. The cohabitation between human beings and wolves is always a little bit stormy, indeed not enough financial compensation in Greece, for the breeders whose cattle was eaten...
and the North of the country. Distributed in approximately 91 packs including some 800 individuals, the population is in increase having fell throughout the XXth century (poaching, poisoning). Favor to a program of protection since the 1980's. The cohabitation between human beings and wolves is always a little bit stormy, indeed not enough financial compensation in Greece, for the breeders whose cattle was eaten...
The abandonment of the agricultural lifestyle by the people makes the happiness of lynxes: fewer people in mountains, less hunting (of the very lynx - although forbidden - and of his preys) and more wild territory, but inconvenience: fewer preys coming from the breeding (sheeps, goats). The population of lynxes is in increase, even if the construction of roads and the illegal hunting - as she of the roe deer (prey of the lynx) - stays a danger for the species.
Sea monks
The Greek islands are not only for tourists. Some - at good distances of continents and uninhabited - are the place of life for the seals monks, endangered species. These animals disappeared little by little, because of the pollution of seas, hunting and as usual reduction of their territory. The seals monks are protected in Greece, where they can live peacefully in a marine reserve formed by some island. There they can eat their favorite food : fishes, octopuses, cuttlefishes and small squids.Birds
The South of Bakans, thanks to its wild landscape, same part protected, others classified in parks, offers to numerous sorts of birds a haven of peace, where they can stay and nest. We can observe them of course, while keeping our distances not to disturb them. The visits are made in small groups and not in troops of tourists, transported with smoky pullman. Don't forget that those ecosystems remain fragile.Sea Turtles
One of the oldest spacies in Earth, the Caretta caretta sea turtles use to nest in many areas of Greece. Like travelers, they like quiet and isoleted sandy beaches where they can lay their eggs. The little turtles start their life journey by reaching the sea from the nest. Not an easy thing if tourists or birds (seagulls) are around. Female will come back where they were born to nest when adult (20 years). Amazing nature !