Martha the bear returns to the wild

In May 2024, a frightened bear cub wandered into the yard of a house in northern Greece. Chased by dogs and alone without its mother, the cub was in desperate need of help. That day began Martha’s story.

Thanks to the swift action of residents and the environmental organization ARCTUROS, the three-month-old cub was rescued and given a second chance. After a year of care at the ARCTUROS Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Martha has now returned to her real home: the forest.

A journey of survival

When Martha was found in the village of Emporio, her survival seemed uncertain. Efforts to locate her mother failed, and so she was taken under the protection of ARCTUROS. From the start, the goal was not to tame her but to prepare her for life back in the wild.

For more than a year, Martha lived in a specially designed forest enclosure where human contact was kept to a minimum. Caregivers provided food and medical attention, but always from a distance. Maintaining her natural instincts was essential.

Martha grew stronger and more confident. She avoided people, explored her surroundings, and displayed the behavior expected of a wild bear. These were encouraging signs that she might one day survive alone in her natural habitat.

The release

In May 2025, Martha was released into a remote forest area far from human settlements. The location was carefully chosen to offer safety, food, and the space she needed to roam freely.

To follow her progress, ARCTUROS fitted Martha with a monitoring collar. Thanks to the support of the Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT) under the Large Carnivore Connect project, biologists can now track her movements and assess how well she adapts. The collar also carries a small camera which, once retrieved, will provide valuable footage offering a rare glimpse into Martha’s daily life in the wild.

Early signals are promising Martha is avoiding settlements and adapting well to her new environment.

More than one bear

Martha’s release is more than the story of one bear. It highlights the importance of wildlife rehabilitation and the challenges of coexistence between people and large carnivores.

Brown bears, wolves, and lynx are vital to Europe’s biodiversity. They help balance ecosystems, and their survival depends on large, connected habitats. Yet these species face many threats: habitat loss, road accidents, and conflict with humans.

Rehabilitation and reintroduction efforts, like Martha’s, contribute to the long-term survival of these species. They show that with science, care, and public support, even vulnerable animals can return to the wild.

A wider vision for coexistence

Martha’s successful release embodies the wider goals of the Large Carnivore Connect project, supported by PONT and implemented by ARCTUROS and its partners. The project works to maintain ecological connectivity for bears, wolves, and lynx across the Prespa-Ohrid region.

Its goals include improving the conservation status of these species, identifying ecologically important zones, and defining priority measures for protection. Equally important are education, awareness, and public participation – from engaging volunteers and young scientists, to developing citizen science initiatives and thematic nature trails.

This integrated approach aims to secure the survival of large carnivores while also considering the wellbeing of local communities.

Looking ahead

Martha now faces the challenge of surviving independently. She will need to find food, avoid human settlements, and adapt to the rhythms of the forest. The monitoring collar will provide valuable information, but her journey remains uncertain.

This uncertainty is part of conservation work. Not every story has a happy ending. But every effort made for Martha strengthens the broader mission: ensuring that bears, wolves, and lynx continue to roam the forests of the Balkans.

Her collar helps scientists learn more about how young bears adjust to life after rehabilitation. It also provides valuable insights that can guide future conservation strategies.

Her release is a reminder that protecting biodiversity is not only about saving individual animals. It is about safeguarding entire ecosystems, fostering coexistence, and building respect for wildlife across borders.

For ARCTUROS and PONT, Martha’s journey is a step forward in the shared commitment to large carnivore conservation. And for all who care about nature, it is a story of hope – a young bear finding her place again in the wild.

By: ARCTUROS