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SAVE THE BROWN BEARS! |
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In the last few years, the brown bear, an endangered species has been the victim of many accidents on highways in the Northern Greece.After efforts of environmental organization for many years, the government has finally decided to build enhanced fences of length 130km across the highways which do not allow the crossing of bears. At the same time, it increases the number of tunnels under the highways which allow the safe crossing of bears and other animals.
 The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) is an omnivorous mammal of a mass from 170kg to 300kg. It is the second biggest species of bear in the world after the polar bear. During autumn it may travel up to 180 km in only one day searching for food. Unlike what most people think, such bears never attack humans, unless they feel that they, or their family, are being threatened.As it is now, the population of this species of bear in Greece is about 350-400. The bears live in populations each of them independent from one another, mainly in mountains.The two most important threats for the brown bear are their intentional killings and the destruction of their natural habitats. To be more precise, these bears are victims of illegal hunting and of the frequent use of poisonous baits, because a lot of people feel that the bears are dangerous for them and their properties. Also, bears were often killed in car accidents, since few measures had been taken to prevent their entrance in highways. In the last four years, in the Highways of Northern Greece there have been 23 accidents, of which 20 had lethal results for the animals. It is lamentable, to see how the Highways of Northern Greece (Egnatia Odos) were build exactly on the natural habitat of bears.  It is worthwhile to report that during the construction of that highway, ten years ago, the Supreme Court forced the construction of a tunnel, below a mountain, instead of the cutting of an important part of the natural habitat of the bears.  After a lot of intense discussion on this problem had been made, with the participation the European Union, resulting to the above decision of enhanced fences around highways up to a 130 km length, and the construction of places from which the bears can pass safely across them.The brown bears have no natural enemies since they are on the top of the food pyramid. Therefore, people are almost fully responsible for the reduction in their population. The reason that people sometimes intentionally kill bears is that the bears often do damage to beehives or livestock.Since 1969, there are laws which recognize the rights of the bears to safety and to freedom, but they are hard to be applied since most of the killings with bear victims are done secretly.Luckily, organizations such as ?Arktouros?, ?Kalisto? and ?WWF? have contributed to the protection of the brown bears in Greece.These organizations try to make people perceive the bears as something natural, and not as a menace. They speak up, they talk with young people about the subject, and they do whatever they can to show that there is space for both people and bears to live together. Also, by searching for the deeper cause of their underpopulation, they know how to act, protecting both humans and bears.In addition, due to the lack of funds, these organization often propose projects to the government, which by obtaining financial help from the European Union, applies them. The national project ARCPIN provides protection which includes the use of special rubbish bins near residential areas which do not allow the access of bears to them (bears love organic wastes) , the enclosure of places with livestock for the protection from bears, and the attaching of special collars to them, to be able to observe their behavior, especially the naughtiest of them.It is really admirable to see people spending big part of their lives trying to show how all creatures can live together on earth and that all creatures have the right to share the natural habitat. |
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9 Comments
it is important to save them for the future generation...
Posted 05-08-2014 00:44
great report about bears :)
Posted 26-07-2014 00:18
Thanks for telling about brown bears.. It's very informative..
Posted 22-07-2014 20:58
Thanks for telling about brown bears. Sad to know about their killings by highway accidents . Glad to note that road authority has at least thought of this concern and put the danger boards on road.
Posted 20-07-2014 03:50
Thanks
Posted 19-07-2014 17:11
Any Species is worth saving,we have the same problem in Sri Lanka with elephants, they cross the highways railroads and get hit by vehicles.
At the moment we are working on electrical fences.
Posted 19-07-2014 11:20
It is really great to hear that effective initiatives has been taken to protect endangered species brown bears .Thank you so much for sharing such article.
Posted 19-07-2014 02:15
Thank you for such a detail report on the brown bears! It's so informative :)
I agree with your opinion that it's invaluable work to devote our life for others, especially, for the environment.
Posted 18-07-2014 09:42
It is very important to save the endangered species and its good to raise the voice about it,thanks for it..
Posted 17-07-2014 19:40