A young female bear with obvious gunshot wounds has been found dead near Stavropotamos in the regional unit of Kastoria, the environmental group Callisto announced on Wednesday.
This is the fourth bear found dead in the area in the last three months, of which three had clearly been shot, Callisto stressed.
The latest dead bear was found on Tuesday and the local forestry service was informed, which in turn informed ‘Callisto’.
The organization, which specializes in the protection of brown bears, said the the young female was a lactating mother. As effort has been launched to locate and save the young cubs, as they are unable to survive on their own.
The mother bear and three three cubs
Meanwhile, Kyrillos Samaras posted on website rosa.gr a picture of a young bear with three cubs enjoying life in a peaceful environment. Samaras noted that he took the picture in the same area where the bear was found shot two months ago.
Bear shot 5 times in the back
Callisto reported that the examination of the body showed that the bear was shot five times in the back, indicating that the animal was fleeing at the time.
Callisto pointed out that the killing or injury of a bear is a criminal act and it called for an investigation of the repeated shootings and killings of bears in Kastoria by the authorities, to find those responsible.
Bear cub fatally shot beginning of July
On July 11, Callisto reported of a bear cub found shot in the village of Poria also in the same Regional Unit of Kastoria. A resident of the area found the injured cub that was in poor condition. The Kastoria Forestry Office and a local veterinarian were immediately notified. When the veterinarian and the Forestry Office officers approached the small animal, it was discovered that the animal had a gunshot wound to its right shoulder blade. Despite the veterinarian’s efforts to treat the unfortunate animal, it died shortly after being taken to the veterinary clinic.
It was a male bear cub, approximately six months old and weighing 10.5 kilograms. The autopsy that followed revealed that he also had a bullet exit wound in his left shoulder blade, indicating that he had been shot directly from very close range. This was the third bear found dead in the last three months in the Kastoria Regional Administrative Region.
Killing or injuring a bear is a criminal act
Callisto pointed out that the killing or injury of a bear is a criminal act and it called for an investigation of the repeated shootings and killings of bears in Kastoria by the authorities, to find those responsible.
Bears in Greece are fully protected as an endangered species, according to Greek and international law and both bears and their habitat are protected by various laws and treaties.
Group Callisto reiterated that the increased incidents of bears approaching residential areas of the Regional Unit of Kastoria in recent months require coordinated action by the competent Authorities. However, in no case can they justify the illegal and inhumane act of killing bears. We emphasize the need for immediate and consistent implementation by the State of a coherent action plan in the Regional Unit of Kastoria, for the protection of both human life and activity, and the strictly protected species of bear.
This is why I won’t travel to Greece and spend my money there. Animal cruelty is ingrained in that country.
Very sad .
These shooters ARE just sick