Large Carnivores status in Greecebrief overview Alex Kavvadia

Large Carnivores status in Greecebrief overview (Alex. Kavvadia MSc Biologist- Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy Yorgos Mertzanis, Ph. D biologist – NGO Callisto) 7 th Regional Workshop of the EU PLATFORM ON COEXISTENCE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND LARGE CARNIVORES Budva, MONTENEGRO, November 6 th, 2018

7 th Regional Workshop of the EU PLATFORM ON COEXISTENCE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND LARGE CARNIVORES -(Budva, Montenegro, November 6 th , 2018) 3+1 large carnivore species in Greece. Wolf Golden jackal Brown bear Lynx lynx

Brown bear (Ursus arctos) status- Greece. Ø Part of the Dinara Pindos & Eastern Balkan populations Brown bear: range, distribution Ø Population: 400 -500 ind. (Pilidis 2015, Mo. E 2016) Ø Range: 34, 868 km 2 Ø Distribution: 17, 850 km 2 (Recolonization of former range) Ø Legal Status Ø Greek law (1969/art. 258) (strictly protected) Ø EU HD 92/43 (Annex II – IV priority species) Ø Bern Convention (Annex II) (strictly protected) Ø (Red data Book, 2009): “EN” LCIE, 2015

Grey wolf (Canis lupus) status- Greece. Ø Part of the Dinara Pindos & Eastern Balkan populations Ø Population: 717 -815 ind(min), 189 packs, 1, 4 -2, 1 ind/100 km 2 (Iliopoulos, Mo. E 2016) Ø Range: 71, 000 km 2 Ø Distribution: 61, 000 -64, 000 km 2 (Recolonization of former range) Ø Legal Status: Ø EU HD: Annex II/IV (priority species – south of 39 o ) – V (north of 39 o parallel) Ø Bern Convention (Annex II)(strictly protected) LCIE, 2015 Ø Red data Book “VU”

Golden jackal (Canis aureus) status- Greece. Ø Population: ~ 1, 000 ind (WWF Greece, Giannatos 2004, WWF Greece 2009) Ø Range: 30, 049 km 2 Ø Distribution: 11, 525 km 2 Ø Recolonization of former range (W. Greece)(Kominos et al. 2018) Ø Ø Ø Legal Status IUCN Red List : “LC” EU HD (Annex V) Red data Book 2009: “VU” In 1990 delisted from “pest” (in Greece).

Balkan Lynx (Lynx lynx balkanicus) status- Greece. Ø Population: unknown (probably vagrants) Ø Potential Range: 2, 130 km 2 (Kominos 2016 , Mo. E 2016) Ø Potential Distribution: NW Pindos range(Kominos 2016 , Mo. E 2016) ? ? Ø Legal Status: Ø IUCN Red List of Threatened Species : Critically endangered (CR) Ø EU HD (Annex II, IV, V) Ø Red data Book 2009: “critically endangered” (CR)

LC Monitoring scheme & methods in Greece.

LC’s monitoring scheme in Greece. Ø EU Member States 6 year reporting (HD 92/43, art. 17) (1 st National Report 1994 -2000, 2 nd NR 2001 -2006, 3 rd NR 2007 -2012) MEEN “Monitoring theperiod conservation status. The of actual reporting Greek submission of Articleand 17 assessment reporting forofthe 2007 - 2012. species habitatistypes Interest in Greece» (2012 -2015)” periodand for Greece 2007 of– Community 2014 : http: //cdr. eionet. europa. eu/gr/eu/art 17/envvkfa_q/ Ø Action plan for Ursus arctos (under LIFE 93/NAT/GR/010800, submission 1995, revision 2019, legal approval 2020) will be updated within LIFE-IP 4 Natura Ø LIFE projects: Brown bear (1994 -95, 1997 -99, 2000 -02, 2009 -13, 2011 -2015, 20162020) – Wolf (1998 -2001) Ø WWF – Greece (funds): Jackal (2004, 2009) Ø Monitoring in Protected areas (National Parks), SPA’s & SCI’s. Ø Other regional scale Monitoring projects: i. e. related to large scale transportation infrastructure (via Egnatia).

BEAR: A. Distribution range size and trends • Systematic records of bio-signs • FWCOY spring surveys • Confirmed damage on livestockbeehives and cultivations (yearly official data from National Farmers Insurance Organization - ELGA). • Questionnaire surveys • Camera traps

BEAR: B. Population levels and trends • Systematic records of bio-signs • FWCOY spring surveys • Genetic fingerprinting N. Pindos-Gramos: Nc=219(Tsaparis et al 2014), N. Pindos – Florina : Nc=154 (Patronidis et al 2018) Rodopi: Nc= 92 ind. (Pilidis 2015) Total: 400 -500 ind. (Pilidis 2015, Mo. E 2016). • Human-caused mortality records • Camera traps

BEAR: C. Home range and spatial activity • • Telemetry (70 tagged ind. ) Genetic fingerprinting (capture-recapture) § Home range size Average HR (MCP 100) for M ~271 km 2 Average HR (MCP 100) for F ~118 km 2 (Giannakopoulos et al. 2015) § Habitat connectivity – gene flow § Habitat use § Monitoring of problem bears.

WOLF: A. Distribution range size/ Complete census: ΟCCUPANCY MODELS from large scale presence data (livestock damage records) • Confirmed damage to livestock- 2013 per municipality (ΕΛΓΑ, 2013). • Occupancy models to predict presence • Closed season- three summer months • Royle- Nichols – closed one season occupancy models (Iliopoulos et al. 2016)

WOLF: Β 1. Distribution & Territory size: Based on, a) Pack spacing b) direct territory size estimations (Iliopoulos et al. 2016) Howling sessions : Pack spacing and counting. Camera traps (pups of the year) Wolf telemetry Territory size: Interviews with localsbreeding sites confirmed

Β. 2 Population: Average pack size Camera trapping (>30 days- winter data) Snowtracking Minimum pack size ν= 26 / 5. 4 ± 0. 6 individuals/pack (95%C. I) (Iliopoulos et al. 2016)

JACKAL: Distribution range size and population estimation (Giannatos 2004 -WWF Greece, Migli, Petridou 2010 – WWF Greece/Callisto, Kominos et al 2018)) • Questionnaires – interviews – information gathering. • Acoustic simulation sessions/ call-ins • Transect counts with spotlights (depending on terrain and vegetation coverage • Telemetry

Balkan LYNX : Intensive surveys for presence detection (1991 - 2016 and continued) (Kominos, Panagiotopoulou 1992, 1994– Kominos, Galanaki 2016) • Questionnaires – interviews – information gathering. • Testimonies records • Camera traps network Reliability categories (based on SCALP classification criteria): Category 1 (C 1): “Hard facts” verified and unchallenged observations such as dead Lynx and clear photos of Lynx. Category 2 (C 2): Observations controlled and confirmed by a specialist, such as killed livestock or wild prey, and Lynx tracks or other field signs. Category 3 (C 3): Unconfirmed observations of the category 2 (kills, tracks, other field signs too old or poorly documented) and all observations such as direct observations and calls which by their nature cannot be verified.

Management of LCs in Greece. LIFE-IP 4 NATURA (LIFE 16 IPE/GR/000002) www. edozoume. gr Formulation, legal adoption and implementation of APs for species/habitats of Community APs Workshop Interest (2019 - 2020 - 2025) AP for brown bear specific management actions for wolf Pilot implementation of MPs in four (4) participating Administrative Regions (start 2022) Complementary actions • Drafting, preparation, evaluation, reviewing and legal adoption of the MPs for all Natura 2000 sites (end 2021) (including SES) • Measures listed in Greek PAF (2014 - 2020, 2020 -2024) Ø Ministry of Environment and Energy (MEEN), Management Bodies of Natura 2000 sites Ø Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food Ø Rural development Program of Greece (2014 -2020) Measure 4. 4. 1 “Protection of agricultural/livestock farming activities from Bear damage. With contribution of : NGO, s, Universities, Research Institutes.

Thank you for your attention!!