ARCTUROS (organization)

ARCTUROS (Greek: ΑΡΚΤΟΥΡΟΣ) is a non-profit, non-governmental, environmental organization in Greece that is focusing on the protection of wildlife fauna and natural habitat. It was founded in 1992 with the main goal of stopping the problem of wolf and bear imprisonment, which was a common occurance at that time.^[1] It is conducting a wide range of activities, like operating wildlife sanctuaries, conducting scientific research, providing veterinary care to wild animals, reintroducing them into nature and more.^[2]

Arcturos (Greek: Αρκτούρος, Ancient Greek: Ἀρκτοῦρος) means "Guardian of the Bear", ultimately from ἄρκτος (arktos), "bear" and οὖρος (ouros), "watcher, guardian". This name was given in ancient times to the star Arcturus and the organization adopted it.^[3]

ARCTUROS contributed greatly in prohibiting the use of animals by circuses in Greece and played a significant role in stopping the feature of dancing bears. Since 1993 it runs wildlife sanctuaries for bears and wolves that lived in captivity and cannot be reintroduced into the wild.^[4] Recently a sanctuary for lynxes was also created.^[5] ARCTUROS has an Emergency Response Team (ERT), which intervenes in emergencies and accidents involving wildlife. Injured or sick animals are taken to the Veterinary Centre in Aetos which is where animals in captivity are treated as well.^[6] The organization is also running a breeding program for Greek Shepherds. The dogs are donated to farmers whose herds graze in the habitat of large carnivores. The facilities of the program are located in Aetos and evey year about 50 puppies are born.^[7] Enviromental education is also carried out by ARCTUROS, with activities launching since 1995; and every year 100,000 students are being educated and trained.^[8] The Bear Information Centre in Nymfaio is run by ARCTUROS and its wildlife sanctuaries are accepting visitors too.^[9] Other activities that are conducted by the organization include the interverance in roadway allignment designs that are opposed to protection of the environment, the upgration of bald woodland areas via afforestations and more.^[4]

ARCTUROS has been conducting genetic studies of the population of brown bears in Greece since 2003^[10] and in 2005 it launched the National Bear Register^[4] which has identified and systematically monitored hundrends of bears^[10] using DNA samples that are collected from special hair-traps.^[4] Apart from the genetic study, it is also monitoring bear populations using automatic motion capture systems in the Pindus and Rhodope mountains, as well as via telemetry with transmitter collars worn on wild animals. The results of all the research programs are in the numerus scientific articles that ARCTUROS has published during all these years.^[10]

The brown bear sanctuary of ARCTUROS opened in 1993^[4] and is located near Nymfaio at an altitude of 1,350 metres (4,430 ft). It consists of a 50,000 square metres (12 acres) fenced area^[9] of a natural forest with beeches. The sanctuary is housing bears that used to live in captivity and hence cannot be reintroduced into the wild. There is a special part for young orphan bears that are taken care of and will then be reintroduced.^[11] This sanctuary was the home of the oldest brown bear ever recorded, a male bear named Andreas who died in 2013 at the age of 50.^[12]

This sanctuary is housing grey wolves and Eurasian lynxes that just like the brown bears cannot be reintroduced into the wild. It is located near Agrapidies at an altitude of 650 metres (2,130 ft) and it consists of a 70,000 square metres (17 acres) fenced area of natural oak forest.^[9] It was created in 1993, though only for wolves.^[4] The lynxes were added in 2021, after 3 of them along with 4 more wolves were brought from a zoological park in Andorra. A part of the area for the wolves had to be fenced for the lynx sanctuary to be created.^[5]

ARCTUROS is collaborating with institutions and companies from all over the globe.^[4] Vodafone was among the companies and institurions that supported the National Bear Register, and the cooperation between ARCTUROS and Vodafone has plans for continuation. The goal is to expand the existing program in the study of movement patterns of many carnivore species, as well as to create a Wildlife Accident Database on the roads of Greece.^[10] ARCTUROS is a member of the International Association for Bear Research and Management and in 2014 it hosted the 23rd International Conference on Bear Research and Management.^[4]