Photos

EUROPEAN BROWN BEAR

Distribution:
Europe, Central Asia and N. America.

Food:
Omnivorous. 85% of its food consists of berries, bulbs, mushrooms, roots. The other 15% includes insects, frogs, fish, snails, birds and their eggs, and others. It loves honey and cherries.

Data:
Bears usually live in mountainous and forested areas, and their territories extend from 20 km² up to 80km². During winter they hibernate for 2 to 4 months depending on the area where they live. Females give birth every 2nd year to 1 or 2 pups, which weigh from 200 to 300 grams. Pups are born in January when the mother is in a state of hibernation, and without the help of their mother who is fast asleep, they find the nipples, which they will suckle constantly for about a month. Bears weigh from 80 to 250 kgs. They are strong, possess an acute sense of smell and strong hearing, but have poor sight and cannot see well beyond 80m. They are very intelligent.

In Greece:
Until the 17th century, when it's population started to decline, the bear lived all over Greece. Today the total population is estimated to number only 120 to 160 individuals concentrated in the Pindos and Rodopi mountain ranges, and represent the largest group in the EEC. The population is seriously threatened and is declining due to illegal hunting and killings by farmers whose crops (fruits, bee-hives) have been destroyed. Their habitat has been reduced by the over-cutting of woods, forest fires, illegal opening of roads in forests and other badly planned technical works.
Since 1969 the Bear is protected by law (ND 86/69) and in 1992 a non-profit organization called ARCTOUROS was created, whose aim is the protection of endangered species and their environment. ARCTOUROS administers a specialized centre in Nymphaio where ex "Dancing Bears" or sick bears are treated and kept in a natural forested area of 20 stemmata (5 acres). ARCTOUROS also carries out research projects and educates the public on the plight of the Bear.

The picture was taken in Attica Park in Spata.
For more information www.atticapark.com