Two weeks. That is how long attempts are being made to remove the bear from the peninsula of Elijah the Prophet in Kastoria, from an area that is very close to the city Kastoria. The male bearbetween the ages of four and five, showed familiarity with the people and the fabric of the city.

According to environmental organization for the protection of wildlife and nature “Kallisto”participating in the operation to remove it, the bear repeatedly swam in Lake Kastoria, approaching the peninsula of Elijah the Prophet and approaching urban areas at a very short distance.

Callisto, together with the Kastoria Forestry Authority, decided that the best method to manage this particular incident would be to capture, radio-tag and reintegrate the bear into the remote forest environment of the Grammos massif. Finally, the operation was carried out in the early morning of Saturday 23/7 by an organized immediate intervention team. After triggering special traps, the bear was immobilized by the specialized personnel of Callistos.

In order to ensure the safety and welfare of the bear, the animal was stunned in the presence of a veterinarian from the Kastoria Regional Office, as well as a representative of the Kastorian Forest Service. The bear was fitted with a GSM/GPS radio collar and then transported by Kallistos vehicle to a special transport cage, where it returned to a remote and wooded area in the Grammos mountain range.

According to Kallistos specialists, the reintegration was carried out using a hard release method, that is, using special means of repelling bears in order to maximally influence the animal with a negative stimulus so that it could not easily return to a residential area. . The bear’s movement will be monitored daily through a special geoplatform by both the Kastoria Forest Service and Callisto to prevent the animal from re-approaching the residential area.

In 2009, Callisto created the first immediate intervention team for the bear. The goal is to effectively manage “crisis” situations associated with the coexistence of the species with humans, and maintain a sustainable bear population in our country. Similar groups have already effectively operated in other European countries (Austria, Italy, Croatia, etc.).

In connection with the increase in cases of attacks by bears on residential areas, in 2014, under the relevant CNAUs, immediate response teams were created and are operating in various regions of the country with the participation of representatives of the forestry or forestry directorate, the local veterinary service, private rangers and representatives of Callisto or Arcturos.

The Florina Emergency Intervention Team has also been on the alert lately as there has been heavy bear traffic in residential areas, both in the municipality of Florina and in the municipality of Amintaio.