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Wolves in National Parks of Greece
Oeta National Park (Greek: Οίτη,)
Mount Parnassus National Park (Greek: Παρνασσός, Parnassos)
Pindus National Park (Greek: Εθνικός Δρυμός Πίνδου Ethnikós Drymós Píndou)
Vikos–Aoös National Park (Greek: Εθνικός Δρυμός Βίκου–Αώου Ethnikós Drymós Víkou–Aóou)
Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
Eurasion Wolf (Canis lupus lupus)
γκρίζος λύκος
Population Statistics [600-700] minimum of 2075 wolves and consisting of at least 255 packs
στατιστικές πληθυσμού
In Greece, its spread extends to almost the entire continental relief of the country, north of Boeotia.
Στην Ελλάδα η εξάπλωσή του εκτείνεται σε όλο σχεδόν το ηπειρωτικό ανάγλυφο της χώρας, βόρεια της Βοιωτίας
ARCTUROS
Legal Status; Protected
νομικό καθεστώς, προστατεύονται
Resources
πόροι
Ministry of Environment and Energy
Υπουργείο Περιβάλλοντος και Ενέργειας
Organizations
οργανώσεις
LIFE EX-TRA («Experience-Transfer», δηλαδή «Μεταφορά Εμπειρίας»)
Καλλιστώ (Thessaloniki, Greece, Ελλάδα)
Αρκτούρος (Florina, Φλώρινα, Ελλάδα)
News Resources & Publications
πόροι ειδήσεις και δημοσιεύσεις
Real (Athens, Greece, Ελλάδα)
Εθνικός Κήρυξ (Athens, Greece, Ελλάδα)
Έθνος (Athens, Greece, Ελλάδα)
dasarxeio Άγρια ζωή
LATEST GREEK NEWS
πρόσφατες ειδήσεις LATEST EUROPEAN NEWS
Wolf and Wildlife News from Greece – Ελλάδα
- Greek prosecutor orders removal of wolves from national park, sparking scientific backlash | InTime News
22nd May 2025
- New fallow deer releases in Rhodope Mountains advance natural process recovery | Rewilding Europe
13th Jan 2021
- Η κατάσταση διατήρησης του λύκου στην Ελλάδα – Ζητήματα σύγκρουσης και τρόποι αντιμετώπισης – dasarxeio.com
16th Aug 2020
- Καταγραφή περιστατικών παρουσίας και ζημιών από λύκο – dasarxeio.com
16th Aug 2020
Journal Articles
Ioakeimidou A, Iliopoulos Y, Moulistanos A, Galani K, Fyta A, Antoniadi E, Bartzokas G, Kampouris T, Birkenhain CS, Rolshausen G, Nowak C. Genetic Monitoring of a Newly Established Grey Wolf Population in a Peri-Urban Protected Area with First Insights into Wolf–Dog Hybridization in Greece. Genes. 2026 Feb
ABSTRACT
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Following centuries of systematic eradication, grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations across Europe have experienced a significant recovery over recent decades, which leads to concerns regarding, among others, anthropogenic hybridization. In Greece, the genetic status of the wolf population is largely unknown to date. Here, we genetically monitor and test for wolf–dog hybridization events in a recently established wolf population in the Parnitha Protected Area, in close vicinity to the capital city of Greece. Methods: One hundred and twenty-four wolf scat samples were genotyped at 20 canine-specific autosomal microsatellite loci and compared to available reference tissue samples from wolves and free-ranging dogs. Results: A minimum of 31 unique wolf individuals were identified, structured into at least three packs. No wolf–dog hybrids were detected in the study area. To validate the accuracy of the microsatellite analysis, an ancestry informative 93-SNP panel was applied to non-invasive wolf DNA samples from the study area, confirming the absence of hybrids among them. However, a possible wolf–dog hybrid was detected among reference wolf samples collected in Northern Greece, where individuals with atypical morphological traits are observed. The estimated census population size was in accordance with concurrently obtained camera trapping data, while heterozygosity values were low. Conclusions: This research represents the first systematic effort in Greece to genetically monitor wolves recently established in a protected area. It highlights the need for targeted management strategies based on genetic data to ensure balanced long-term conservation of wolves in peri-urban areas.
Are Wolves the Real Problem? Challenges Faced by Livestock Farmers Living Alongside Wolves in Northwestern Greece. Petridou M, Kati V. Sustainability 2025
Biodiversity crime and economic crisis: Hidden mechanisms of misuse of ecosystem goods in Greece AY Troumbis, Y Zevgolis – Land Use Policy, 2020
Wolf diet and livestock selection in central Greece. Petridou M, Youlatos D, Lazarou Y, Selinides K, Pylidis C, Giannakopoulos A, Kati V, Iliopoulos Y. Mammalia. 2019
Ηλιόπουλος Γιώργος, 2018. Η κατάσταση διατήρησης του λύκου στην Ελλάδα, ζητήματα σύγκρουσης και τρόποι αντιμετώπισης (Τεχνική αναφορά), σ.79. Καλλιστώ Π.Ο Iliopoulos Y., 2018. Conservation status of the wolf in Greece, conflict issues and mitigation, (Technical Report, in Greek), pp79
Animal mortality and illegal poison bait use in Greece
K Ntemiri, V Saravia, C Angelidis, K Baxevani… – Environmental …, 2018
[PDF] Postmortem Injuries on Illegal Migrants’ Cadavers at the Eastern Land Borders of the European Union-Greece
P Pavlos, C Evmorfia, MV Karakasi, K Spyridon… – J Forensic …, 2018 –
Activity, movement, home range and habitat use of an adult gray wolf in a Mediterranean landscape of northern Greece
AA Karamanlidis, M de Gabriel Hernando… – Mammalia, 2017
Evaluating the effectiveness of Natura 2000 network for wolf conservation: A case-study in Greece
NEP Votsi, MS Zomeni, JD Pantis – Environmental management, 2016
Wolf population genetics at the south-eastern edge of their European range
AA Karamanlidis, SD Czarnomska, A Kopatz… – … Biology-Zeitschrift für …, 2016
Who let the wolves out? Narratives, rumors and social representations of the wolf in Greece
IT Theodorakea, E von Essen – Environmental Sociology, 2016
Wolf pack rendezvous site selection in Greece is mainly affected by anthropogenic landscape features
Y Iliopoulos, D Youlatos, S Sgardelis – European journal of wildlife …, 2014
[HTML] North-south differentiation and a region of high diversity in European wolves (Canis lupus)
AV Stronen, B Jędrzejewska, C Pertoldi, D Demontis… – PLoS …, 2013
Structural and economic aspects of human–bear conflicts in Greece
AA Karamanlidis, A Sanopoulos, L Georgiadis… – Ursus, 2011
The dietary habits of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in western Greece
NP Paralikidis, NK Papageorgiou, VJ Kontsiotis… – … Biology-Zeitschrift für …, 2010
Wolf depredation on livestock in central Greece Y Iliopoulos, S Sgardelis, V Koutis, D Savaris – Mammal Research, 2009
[PDF] The status of the golden jackal (Canis aureus L.) in Greece G Giannatos, Y Marinos, P Maragou… – Belgian Journal of …, 2005
[PDF] Winter food habits of wolves in central Greece D Migli, D Youlatos, Y Iliopoulos – Journal of Biological Research, 2005
Helminths of foxes and other wild carnivores from rural areas in Greece H Papadopoulos, C Himonas… – Journal of …, 1997
The importance of goats to a natural environment: a case study from Epirus (Greece) and Southern Albania. Green S, King G. Terra Nova. 1996 Nov
Metaphors of encroachment: Hunting for wolves on a central Greek mountain RS Moore – Anthropological Quarterly, 1994
[PDF] Status and diet of wolves in Greece N Papageorgiou, C Vlachos, A Sfougaris… – Acta theriologica, 1994