Arcturos was founded in the autumn of 1992 as a non-profit civil company based in Thessaloniki, dedicated to the protection and management of wildlife and the natural environment.

The organization’s initial focus centered on the brown bear (Ursus arctos), as this species serves as an ideal flagship for the holistic management of large forest areas across Greece—particularly in Northern Greece—and for the conservation of various flora and fauna species. Furthermore, Greece’s two core bear populations (Pindos – Rhodope) are connected with populations across the Balkan peninsula, highlighting the essential need for cross-border cooperation.

Arcturos aims to foster collaboration between governmental and non-governmental (environmental/scientific) bodies in Greece, leveraging every opportunity to elevate the country’s international standing in environmental protection and management.

Arcturos established and organized the Bear Protection Center to permanently resolve the issue of dancing bears and captive bears living under unsuitable conditions. This issue carries broader cultural and educational significance: it is contradictory to seek public and institutional environmental awareness while outdated practices from former eras persist. The Center’s Veterinary Station has been operating in Fanos, Florina since January 1993, rehabilitating bears confiscated from handlers and preparing them for the Nymfaio Environmental Sanctuary (Semi-Free Living).

In January 1994, Arcturos launched the broader “ARKTOS” Program aimed at the “Protection and Management of Brown Bear Populations and Habitats in Greece.”

Believing in the direct connection between pure sportsmanship and environmental protection, Doukas School Athletic Club (Doukas S.A.C.) decided in 1995 to adopt a brown bear—a species deeply rooted in Greek nature that was facing extinction—thereby financially supporting the non-profit organization. The brown bear became the Club’s mascot under the name “Duke”, making Doukas S.A.C. perhaps the only sports club in the world with a live mascot!

Furthermore, through the purchase of “Duke” merchandise from “Mathitoskosmos” (the bookstore located on the 2nd floor of Dais Sports Center), supporters actively contribute to Arcturos and wildlife preservation.

For the record, Duke was previously owned by a private individual in Sayiada, Thesprotia, who purchased him at age 3 from a traveling bear handler. Duke lived chained to trees in the yard because he destroyed everything within the chain’s reach. His owner handed him over to ARCTUROS on May 17, 1994, at age 5. Today, Duke is in great health, weighs around 200 kg, and is observant, smart, and quick to imitate actions he sees. Duke was named after Doukas School Athletic Club, which adopted him.

25/5/2012

With genuine sorrow—more than we could have ever imagined—we received the news of the passing of our beloved Duke. Some of us had never seen him in person… yet everyone knew that a small piece of Doukas S.A.C. lived in Nymfaio, Florina, serving over the last 17 years as a constant point of reference and connection to our Club. We all knew that Duke, the large brown bear we adopted in 1995, lived in the Arcturos sanctuary, where over time many friends of Doukas S.A.C. or students from our school would visit to get to know him and say hello… As strange as it may seem, a living piece of our history has passed away, and it cannot leave us unmoved… After all, his presence accompanied exactly half the lifespan of Doukas S.A.C. (founded in 1979), making Duke so much more than just a mascot…

Below is the official Press Release from Arcturos through which Duke’s passing was announced today…

“On Friday morning, May 18, the Arcturos caregiver monitoring the overall condition of the Bear Sanctuary noticed that Duke was unwell, appearing more lethargic and lacking his usual appetite. Shortly after, he seemed almost unable to move, whereupon he was rushed to the Wildlife Veterinary Care Station operated by ARCTUROS in Aetos, Florina.

He passed away shortly after, without symptoms of disease or signs of pain. The veterinary report confirmed natural causes, as Duke was already 23 years old (the average lifespan of a bear is 25 years) and had compromised health due to his early years as a dancing bear. In fact, on his back left leg, he bore a scar caused by a burn from a hot iron during the brutal training of that era.

The practice of dancing bears and the urgent need to end the humiliation and torture of this large mammal was the main reason for founding ARCTUROS 20 years ago. Today, we proudly state that, first among all Balkan countries, we succeeded in Greece and no longer have dancing bears.

The news of Duke’s passing has deeply saddened all of us at ARCTUROS, and we share this news with the public as he was one of the most beloved and friendly bears to visitors of the Brown Bear Sanctuary.”

The will and commitment of Doukas S.A.C. to continue supporting the important work carried out by Arcturos was taken for granted… Equally certain were the efforts of Arcturos (an environmental organization for the protection of wildlife and the natural environment) to renew the adoption of a new Duke by Doukas S.A.C., as soon as a “successor” could be found…

Ultimately, the solution comes by the name of “Kyriakos”, an 8-year-old brown bear who, as of 2014, is set to be renamed “Duke”—thus continuing the story of our Club’s live bear-mascot that began in 1995.

Let’s find out who “Kyriakos” is (source: Arcturos):

“Kyriakos was found alongside his brother Manolis at 4–5 months of age by a livestock farmer who saved them from his herd’s dogs after they chased and attacked the cubs.

They were sheltered at the farmer’s barn for a few months, making their reintroduction into the wild impossible following their prolonged cohabitation with humans and their complete familiarity with and dependence on human care. He was named after the farmer who found him. Today, he is approximately 8 years old.

He remains closely bonded with Manolis and usually hides behind him when frightened. He likes climbing trees, playing in the water, and is crazy about bread and honey.”