On November 5, an event took place in Pedino, Amyntaio, with great success, where the measures to prevent damage from bears and tackling the phenomenon of poisoned baits use were discussed. The event was organised by the Municipality of Amyntaio and the Environmental Organisation “Callisto”, who are partners of the LIFE AMYBEAR project (www.lifeamybear.eu), in collaboration with the Livestock and Sheep Breeding Cooperative of the Amyntaio area. The presentations were focusing on the following three topics:
- How bear damages can be prevented in the livestock department,
- How the phenomenon of poison baits can be reduced,
- How the first anti-poison first aid kit can be used to save the dog that has been poisoned.
After the presentations, the exchange of views and thoughts continued.
The event began with short greeting from the president of Livestock and Sheep Breeding Cooperative of the Amyntaio area, Mr Ioannids Timotheos, and the representative of the Municipality of Amyntaio, the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Kiose Panagiotis. Then the floor was given to Mrs Victoria Saravia, Environmentalist, who is the operator of the specially trained dog of the “Poison Detection Team Action in Western Macedonia” of the Hellenic Ornithological Society. Mrs Saravia underlined the extent of the phenomenon in the Mediterranean and more specifically in Greece, emphasising the work done by the Ornithological Department against baits.
Then two more presentations were made by the collaborator of the Environmental Organisation “Callisto”, Mr Alexios Giannakopoulos. During the first presentation, the general problems faced by livestock in Greece and how the use of good shepherd dogs and electric fences is discussed is an effective way to limit the bear damages. The second presentation analysed the good practices of veterinary care and training of shepherd dogs.
At the end of the event, leaflets of the LIFE AMYBEAR project were distributed along with anti-poison first aid kits, which were bought by the Municipality of Amyntaio in the contect of the project. Also, a demonstration of how exactly each of the medicines contained should be used was contacted. The kit has proven to be very useful tool in terms of saving the life of a sheepdog or a hound that has consumed poisoned bait for the critical period until it is transported to a veterinary clinic to properly complete the therapeutic effort.
The LIFE AMYBEAR project started its implementation since October 2016 and will be completed in early 2021. It aims to improve the conditions of co-existing of humans and bears in the area of the Municipality of Amyntaio and the Municipality of Florina. LEVER-Development Consultants, the Municipality of Amyntaio and the Directorate of Forests of the Decentralised Administration of Epirus-Western Macedonia and the Environmental Organisation “Callisto” are formulating the partnership of the project.
