Shock has gripped Drama following the discovery of a young male bear found dead and beheaded in a mountainous area of Livaderou. The unfortunate animal was found by a Forest Service employee from Drama, who immediately notified the Forest Service, the environmental organization “Kallisto” and OFYPEKA, as required by the Bear Emergency Response Team protocol.
Authorities have already filed charges and a preliminary investigation is underway to locate the perpetrators.
According to autopsy findings, the bear sustained two gunshot wounds from a firearm: one to the back and one to the thigh. After shooting and killing the animal, the perpetrators proceeded to behead it, an act that experts characterize as a clear criminal offense.
OFYPEKA and “Kallisto” emphasize in a joint statement that killing or injuring a bear constitutes a criminal offense, as the species is protected under Greek and international law. Bears are considered a strictly protected species, with legal coverage under the Forest Code, the Habitats Directive (92/43/EU), the Bern Convention, and the CITES treaty.
According to the Red Book of Threatened Animals of Greece (2009), the brown bear is classified as an Endangered Species, making this incident even more serious.
