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Brown bear. Credit: Mike McBride<\/a> \/ Flickr<\/a> \/ CC BY-NC 2.0<\/a><\/p>\n Greece<\/a>\u2019s large predators<\/a> are making a strong comeback after decades of decline, but the recovery has brought new concern to rural areas now facing more encounters with bears, wolves, and wild boars.<\/p>\n The shift became clear in northwestern Greece, where a farmer found three of his sheep mauled to death. Large paw prints near the carcasses confirmed a bear attack. \u201cIt was a bear<\/a>, a very big one, and they come often now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Another farmer nearby had recently lost chickens and pigs. To prevent further losses, Kasparidis moved his remaining flock close to his home.<\/p>\n Conservation success sparks rural anxiety<\/p>\n Environmentalists say the return of predators is a conservation<\/a> victory made possible by protected-species laws that banned hunting. But many residents of remote villages say daily life has become more stressful. Livestock losses are rising, and some villagers avoid walking outside after dark.<\/p>\n Brown bears make a strong return<\/p>\n Brown bears have made one of the most significant recoveries. Their numbers have grown nearly fourfold since the 1990s, said Dimitrios Bakaloudis, a professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki<\/a> who specialises in wildlife conservation.<\/p>\n A recent Arcturos survey estimates that up to 870 brown bears now live in northern Greece. Arcturos, founded in 1992, also operates sanctuaries for rescued bears and wolves.<\/p>\n Wolves expand deep into southern regions<\/p>\n Wolves have followed a similar trend. Once limited to central Greece, they now roam the outskirts of Athens and the Peloponnese<\/a>. Their recovery has been supported by the booming population of wild boars. Reduced hunting, warmer winters, and cross-breeding with domestic pigs have led to rapid boar reproduction. This expanding food source has helped wolves move into new regions.<\/p>\n Wild boars bring urban disruption<\/p>\n Wild boars are increasingly appearing in town centers and residential areas. They dig up farmland, destroy crops, and wander through backyards. Their presence has become one of the most visible signs of Greece\u2019s wildlife comeback.<\/p>\n The rise in predator numbers has led to a small but concerning increase in incidents. A child was bitten by a wolf. An elderly man was injured by a bear in his yard. Two hikers were attacked in separate incidents, one fatally, after falling into a ravine during a bear encounter.<\/p>\n Villages report a shift in daily life<\/p>\n