Florina: Few months old bear cub was shot and killed

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 Xino Nero of Florina. 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 located by a local rancher, who notified "Arcturos", and his representatives rushed to the scene, examined it, and found that it had two gunshot wounds, one through the abdomen and one through the chest.

The Forest Service of Florina, whose representative went to the area, was immediately notified.

According to a statement from the environmental organisations "Arcturos" and "Kallisto", this is another serious crime against nature. At the same time, a year ago, unknown persons had killed three more bears in the wider area.

It is noted that during this period, in the Amyntaio region, the two organisations participated in the European project "LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors".

It is an international collaboration between the Netherlands, Italy and Greece to conserve brown bear populations in Central Italy and Greece by maintaining and ensuring the functionality of essential corridors of movement and connection of bear populations and creating "smart communities of coexistence" of people and bears.

Greek and EU legislation strictly protect bears, a valuable species of our natural wealth and cultural heritage, with an essential role in the functioning of the forest ecosystem.

The two organisations call on the competent authorities not to underestimate the importance of this event and to proceed immediately with extensive investigations to identify the perpetrator.

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