The hare in Greece: an ancient game species under heavy hunting pressure

A doctoral thesis from the University of Thessaly, based on the mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome of brown hares from Greece, Turkey and Israel, concludes that the colonisation of large parts of Europe began at the end of the last glacial period from a population in the central or south-central Balkans. Bulgaria and north-eastern Greece form a zone where all the genetic groups identified meet, and gene flow from Anatolia across the Bosphorus was detected.^[2] The author points out that the hare is one of the most important game species in Europe, particularly in the Balkan Peninsula and in Greece.^[2] For the biology of the species, see our Brown hare profile.

A study published in 2007 in the journal Oryx describes severe hunting pressure on the hare in Greece, with densities of around 1.1 to 2.4 hares per 100 ha. It also notes that European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) caused 40 to 90% mortality between 1986 and 1990.^[1] We have not found a recent published national census: these figures should be read as an order of magnitude from the scientific literature.

Hunting is governed by an annual decision of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (ΥΠΕΝ) on "hunting regulations". For the 2026-2027 season, decision ΥΠΕΝ/ΔΔΔ/88483/2815, published in the Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ Β' 4804), limits hare hunting to three days a week (Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday) and bans it for the entire season on the islands of Lemnos and Agios Efstratios.^[3]

This national decision is then applied locally: each forest service (δασαρχείο) issues a forest police ordinance specifying the closed areas. In Corinth, the 2024-2025 ordinance, based on the 1969 Forest Code, bans hunting, for example, in permanent wildlife refuges and on game farms.^[4] For the periods in force, refer to that year's decision and to the competent forest service.

According to the Oryx study, about 2,000 captive-bred hares were released in Greece between 1991 and 2001 under restocking programmes. They came from Greek breeding stations whose stock had been imported mainly from Italy, the former Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. Genetic markers found in nine wild hares in 2003-2004 indicate that some of these animals survived long enough to breed at least once. The authors consider that such programmes may be appropriate in certain situations.^[1]

The Corinth forest ordinance only allows trade in game if it comes from public or private breeding farms, controlled hunting areas or abroad, provided legal procedures have been followed.^[4] Before any introduction project, check with the competent forest service and the ministry (ΥΠΕΝ). Our guide to returning hares to the wild describes general good practice, drawn up for France.