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The first confirmed wolf-dog hybrid in Greece has been identified through genetic testing, according to researchers from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Assistant Professor of Biology Nikoletta Karaiskou announced that her team confirmed the presence of the hybrid using advanced genetic methods. The discovery was made as part of a broader research initiative, conducted in collaboration with the environmental organization Kallisto under a European program that aims to measure the rate of wolf-dog hybridization in Greece.
“We have completed a study of 50 samples from the Central Macedonia region, where the phenomenon of hybridization appears particularly intense,” Karaiskou said. “In total, we analyzed around 200 samples from across Greece in cooperation with the Henkel Institute in Frankfurt.”
Karaiskou noted that while hybridization is a natural process that can lead to the emergence of new species, human activities can intensify it, potentially threatening wild populations. “The issue arises when it happens due to anthropogenic interventions – then there can be negative impacts for a species,” she said.
The findings come amid growing concerns in Kilkis, northern Greece, where local authorities and farmers have reported increasing incidents of livestock attacks by what are believed to be hybrids.
“Residents constantly see them outside their homes and in their fields,” said Dimitris Theodoridis, deputy mayor of Kilkis. “These hybrids don’t live only in forests or mountains – they come close to villages, even entering them. They’re not afraid.”
Authorities are now monitoring the situation closely as sightings become more frequent in rural areas.