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Greek Wildlife Protection

Placement number:  0043
Location: Greece 
Preferred Languages:  English
Date:  June to September
Minimum Period: 2 weeks normally, extended stays can be arranged with the project leaders approval.

Please note this project is full for 2008. Happy to discuss volunteers in 2009

This Greek, NGO works towards the reinforcement of biodiversity and sustainability of the Greek natural environment. The organization is aiming at the sustainable development and management of Protected Areas, thus providing expert support in human intervention and implementing transborder projects for the protection of mountainous ecosystems with special emphasis in the study of the bears and large mammals. Since 1992, the organisation has worked on issues of public awareness in matters of environmental protection and voluntarism, besides the main activities which always concern the captured bears and wolves.

The forests of the mountain ranges of northern Greece are home to Europe's largest population of the protected Brown Bear. But the bears who have been given sanctuary are far from wild. Most are the infamous "dancing bears" abandoned or confiscated from gypsies when the practice was banned in 1969.

They "danced" because they had their front feet burnt on hot coals as youngsters while their masters played the tambourine. Traumatized by the experience, they would instinctively dance whenever the familiar tune was heard.

Even if saved from this fate, however, they could never survive back in the wild. Many had their teeth broken to stop them biting their owners and were psychologically scarred by their experience in captivity.

In 1992, the organisation was formed as a non-profit organization and the following year began programs to protect the brown bear, eventually attracting EU and private sector support, as well as funds from WWF. Today, it has a team of 16 staff, 40 associates and another 40 volunteers whose work entails protecting and managing the area's natural environment and wildlife. They are also leading Balkan initiatives to monitor and protect the region's bear population.

Thirteen bears have found a home in the five-acre sanctuary, including an American black bear from a circus and three refugees from the Belgrade zoo brought in after the Yugoslavia wars.

In the nearby town of Aetos, there is a veterinary station and an innovative visitor center with excellent interactive displays and programs. The "sponsor a bear" program and educational programs have helped raise awareness of the problem and of environmental issues throughout Greece. Along with the sanctuary, the center attracts about 30-35,000 visitors per year.

The organisation also works with farming organizations to offer local farmers and bee-keepers support and compensation for damage to their livelihoods by wild bears. Whereas in the past many of these bears were shot, now farmers contact the center, which helps provide electrified fencing, shepherd dogs or other means of protection.

In 1998, a similar program, aimed at protecting the region's wolves, was started and has established a separate wolf sanctuary nearby.

Role of Volunteer

We expect the volunteers to help with radio tracking of Bears and Wolves, cleaning, construction work and general help around our centre.

Volunteer Stories

Christina Faust, Summer 2007 
I spent 7 weeks this past summer volunteering for here, a wildlife conservation NGO in northern Greece. The experience was the best of my life, and I learned so much about conservation work. Everyone was so accomodating and I can't wait to return.

Cost

 

Food and accommodation is free. 

 

Travel

 

Fly to Thessaloniki, Greece.  We may be able to arrange pre-booked pick-ups.

 

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