The environmental organisation Callisto has confirmed the discovery of the first genetically verified wolf-dog hybrid in Greece. The animal was found near the northern city of Thessaloniki, marking the first confirmed case of its kind in the country, according to Callisto biologist Emilia Ioakeimídou.
The finding came from a study of 50 samples collected from wolves across mainland Greece. Genetic analysis revealed that the animal’s DNA was 45% wolf and 55% dog.
While similar cases have been recorded across Europe, Central Asia and the United States, most were identified based on appearance rather than genetics. The latest tests suggest that such wolf-dog hybrids are far rarer than previously believed.
Greece’s wolf population has grown in recent decades, largely due to the 1983 hunting ban introduced under the Bern Convention. It is now estimated that around 2,075 wolves live in Greece, with at least three packs roaming the Parnitha mountain range, close to Athens.
Modern studies into the origins of dogs indicate that humans may have played a key role in their domestication. While the prevailing theory suggests wolves approached human settlements for food, new research proposes that early humans might have taken wolf pups and raised them- a process that could have led to the emergence of domestic dogs.
Also read: Enigmatic Jurassic reptile looks like a mix of snake and lizard
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