Three bears have been found dead within two days in Western Macedonia, including Kirki, a young bear that was poisoned after returning to the wild following care by the wildlife conservation organization Arcturos.
According to Arcturos, Kirki died after consuming poisoned bait and remained unburied for three days, creating a serious risk of secondary poisoning for other animals that could come into contact with the remains.
The incident has caused concern among conservationists, who say the deaths highlight ongoing problems in protecting wildlife and responding effectively to threats against bear populations.
The two other bears were found dead in the areas of Pylori in Kozani and Armenochori in Florina. Arcturos said they were killed by shotgun wounds to the head.
Arcturos warns of ongoing wildlife protection challenges
Arcturos said the deaths of three bears in such a short period of time should not be considered isolated events.
“Three dead bears in two days are not accidental incidents,” the organization said, arguing that the situation reflects continued weaknesses in the response mechanisms for protecting wildlife.
The conservation group stressed that Greece already has a legal framework for managing incidents involving bears near residential areas, but said stronger implementation and operational readiness from responsible services are still needed.
Call for immediate action
Arcturos called on authorities to move forward with the full staffing and operation of emergency response teams dealing with wildlife incidents.
The organization also highlighted the importance of informing residents and introducing preventive measures in areas where bear populations are increasing.
“The repetition of similar incidents shows that simply identifying the problem is no longer enough,” Arcturos said, calling for the immediate and effective application of existing solutions.
