Endangered animals in Greece

PRIMARY SCHOOL OF
NAOUSA PAROS

PROJECT:
Online brochure about
endangered animals in Greece

1

Pupils: "ΑΛΚΥΟΝΗ" Σύλλογος Περίθαλψης & Προστασίας
Άγριων Ζώων -
learned about animals in The Aegean Wildlife Hospital (ALKIONI)
danger of extinction in their https://www.facebook.com/%CE%91%CE%BB%CE%B
area and generally in A%CF%85%CF%8C%CE%BD%CE%B7-Aegean-Wildlife-
Greece, Hospital-282833361820028/

found information about 2
them using books and the
internet,

painted and learned to
recognize their basic
features,

talked about respecting and
trying to help them,

were informed about the
Aegean Wildlife Hospital
(ALKIONI).

Animals near extinction

Reasons of extinction

of the animal kingdom

Animals near extinction

It is estimated that the total number of animals and plants on
our planet is about 2 to 8 millions. Up to now, about 1.500.000
species have been classified. Unfortunately, however,
thousands of them are threatened with extinction. Some may
be extinct before we even discover them. It is estimated that
each year about 30.000 species are extinct.

Reasons of extinction of the animal kingdom

Threatened is called every kind
of an alive organism which is
threatened with extinction in the
near future. The main reasons
which lead species to extinction
are three:

1. Uncontrolled hunting.
2. The ruin of their environment, that is the area they live, find

their food and grow up.
3. Environmental pollution and the change of the climate.

Donkey

Its scientific name is Equus asinus, it is in other
words a kind of “horse”(Equus). It is an animal
that it is famous for its long – lasting patience.
It is also a symbol of humility, which is also
mentioned in the New Testament, with Christ
coming to Jerusalum “on a donkey”. The
donkey is a very cute animal which was in the
born of every house in the villages some years
ago and now is about to be extinct as the
number of donkeys in Greece has been
seriously lessened. According to a conference
that was held on Hydra from the University of
Thessaloniki, from the 508.000 donkeys that
existed in Greece in 1955, in 1995 there were
95.000, in 2005 20.400 and in 2006 only
18.173. the E.U. warned us that it is
threatened to be a kind under extinction.

Hedgehog

Why it is in danger : As it is usual for most of
the small mammals which live near people,
cars are a serious threat for hedgehogs. Most
of the times they are run over by cars when
they try to cross the street. Another usual
cause of their death which comes from
humans, is the use of insecticides. Hedgehogs
eat insects full of insecticides, they have
stomach problems and they finally die.

Vulture

A quite common kind till the early 20th
century, vulture lived in almost all the rocky
mountains of Greece. Some years ago, it had
its nests in the Cyclades, Lefkas, Nafplio,
Taygetos, Helmos and Rhodes where they
called it “bridly” because its moustaches
resemble bridles.
Today it has disappeared from all these areas.
The main body of its population is in Crete (25
birds) and mainly in Samaria Gorge in Chania,
while there are only a few birds in the other
areas of Greece.

Aegean Seagull

It is an excellent example of a successful effort
for the recovery of a species. While during 70s
its population had been diminished
considerably, today it has been multiplied to a
satisfactory level. It is exclusively grown in the
Mediterranean Sea in rocky areas and rocky
small islands. It is a migratory species.

Wolf

A symbol of strength, wit and fear. It was
persistently hunted by people. Before 1924, it
was found all over the mainland of Greece.
Then it was declared as harmful and the forest
authorities gave rewards for its extinction. Its
extinction was forbidden by the E.U. in 1993.
Wolves are not lonely animals. They live in
parks of 7 – 10 wolves. They co-operate to
hunt. The social organization of the park is
based on a certain social status. No one
doubts the leader, only if it is hurt or gets old,
then the second in rank becomes the leader.

Brown Bear

.It lives in Pindos and Rodopi. It is an animal
that eats everything but it prefers wild fruit,
roots, mushrooms and of course loves honey, it
also eats amphibian animals, insects and
animals. It is not an aggressive animal, but if it
feels threatened or her children, it will attack.
It lives in the forests and it is a lonely animal.
Despite the fact that it is a big and heavy
animal it moves easily, it climbs trees and
stands on its two back feet. In winter, it falls in
winter sleep. Illegal hunting has led it to
extinct

Wild Goat

Both male and female have horns. In
winter its fur is dark to black while in
summer it becomes lighter. It eats plants
like moss, leaves, pine needles, flowers,
branches and lichens. They live in
mountains and slopes. The male ones
live alone.

Black Vulture

It is the biggest vulture in Europe. When it
is born and small it is black but when it
grows up it is light brown. It lives in the
National Park of Dadia. It makes its nest
on the slopes. It mates for a lifetime. It is
fed with dead animals of medium size i.e.
turtles,. It disappears because it eats
poisoned food which people leave for
other animals.

Red Dear

The red deer is threatened with extinction
because of hunting and forest ruin in which they
live. The male one has got thorns but the female
does not. They live about 15 to27 years. In
Greece, they live mainly in the forests. Most deer
in Greece live in the Parnitha Park and also in
Rodope. In order to prevent their extinction, we
have created state farms, places where they
grow up and then we leave some of them to live
free in nature.

Jakal

It is a mammal of medium size.
Although most of us think that the
jakal is an animal that is harmful
because it eats the animals that
people breeds. It is fed with fruit and
berries and small rodents or dead
animals which finds in nature. It lives
in many countries in the world but it
is in danger everywhere. It eats meat
of course, especially sheep. In
Greece it is found in the
Peloponnese, in Samos, in Chalkidiki,
in Fokida.

Mediterranean Seal Monahus – Monahus

It is 1 – 3 meters long and it weighs about 15 –
20 kilos. It is a mammal that means it gives
birth to babies… Mediterranean seal lives in
the Mediterranean Sea and in the west
Atlantic Ocean. It is grey or brown and its belly
is of light colour. Most of them live in the
Greek waters. It disappears because people kill
them or catch them accidentally in their
fishing nets when fishing. Also, sea pollution in
other words environmental ruin in which it
lives are reasons for its extinction. It is fed with
a great variety of fish. It also eats octopuses,
squids, cuttlefishes e.t.c.

Sea Turtle Kareta – Kareta

It lives for about 80 years and eats sea weeds
and jellyfish. It lives in the sea but it has got
lungs so it can go on the sand to lay its eggs.
Every spring, it comes out of the sea and
searches the suitable place on the beach to
make her nest in which it will lay its eggs.
Kareta – Kareta usually lays its eggs at night. It
lays about 120 eggs. Little turtles will come
out from these eggs after 2 months. As soon
as they come out from the eggs, they all set
out for the sea. They are in danger from the
seagulls and the fish but also from humans
and environmental pollution.

Dolphin

It is a mammal and it breathes with lungs. It
maintains its temperature stable just like
humans. On its forehead, it has got a system
which produces sounds in order to find its
destination, to communicate and find food.
After twelve months it gives birth to a baby. Its
mother keeps its baby close for 3 to 6 years. It
is in danger due to environmental pollution,
lock of food since humans fish more and more
and dolphins cannot find enough food as a
consequence, plus the fact that they are
caught accidentally in the fishermen’s nets.

Blackhead Seagull

In Greece, this kind of bird is common during
the spring immigration. Since the beginning of
March till the end of April, we can see a great
gathering of them per day (600 – 1200 birds)
which stop for supplies.

Viper of Milos
(Red Viper)

Characteristics : Its body is of brown or grey –
brown or grey – yellow with light yellow or
brown shapes.

Credits:
Classes D1 (Tripolitsiotis Th.), & D2 (Pargana Ag.)
Digital editing: Detsiou S.

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