It has been established that the total brown bear population in the country’s three national parks, in Pindos, Spetses and Rodopi, in 2020-2021 is 485 individuals, and there is significant genetic diversity in all three areas. These are the main findings of the genetic analysis carried out by the Department of Veterinary Medicine (Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology) and the Department of Public and Unified Health (Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetics) of the University of Thessaly, Callisto Environmental Organization. , North Pindos National Park, Prespa National Park and Rhodope National Park.

In particular, within the framework of the “Improving Human-Bear Coexistence in 4 National Parks of Southern Europe” (ARCPROM) program, 10 brown bear-specific microsatellite markers were identified and studied in order to assess population distribution in the Pindos, Prespa and Rhodope regions.

The aim was also to assess the genetic diversity of the brown bear living in Greece and to investigate the possible genetic link of bears between the three regions. The genetic analysis used brown bear hair samples collected in 2020-2021 using the hair trap method, in accordance with the activity of bears observed during this period. A total of 472 samples were collected and analyzed: 96 from the Prespa National Park, 170 from the Northern Pindos National Park and 206 from the Rhodope National Park.

According to the findings, the population of Pindos is genetically isolated, while the corresponding populations of Prespa and Rodopi show mutual overlap. In addition, there is a high degree of inbreeding in the Rhodopes and Prespas, which in the long term may lead to a reduction in the genetic diversity of the population. In Pindos, the population appears to be more stable compared to those of the Rhodopes and Prespa, which appear to be more vulnerable. In a conversation with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, Associate Professor of the Department of Public and Integrated Health Maria Satra and Professor of the Department of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Thessaly Charalambos Billinis emphasize that through the repetition of an action that will occur in 2023, and using the same methodology, more reliable conclusions will be drawn as in in relation to genetic characteristics, and in relation to the conservation and management of the brown bear in Greece.