To: The Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, NECCA and the Municipality of Ithaca
Atokos is a protected Natura 2000 island. It is home to rare wildlife, including the endangered Mediterranean monk seal. It should be protected—not exploited.
Instead, the pigs of Atokos have become a tourist attraction.
Every day during the tourist season, boats bring visitors to Atakos. The pigs are fed to attract them for photos and videos. Tourists touch, chase and disturb the animals. Piglets are even picked up and forced into the sea for social media.
The pigs have been made dependent on tourists for food. Instead of receiving proper nutrition, they are fed scraps and junk food. Hungry animals crowd around visitors in search of something to eat. This has led to aggression, fights, severe bite wounds and an increasing risk of injuries to both pigs and people.
This is not responsible tourism. It is animal exploitation in a protected nature reserve.
We urge the Greek authorities to:
Stop using the Atokos pigs as a tourist attraction.
Ban feeding and disturbing the pigs.
Take responsibility for the health and welfare of these animals
Protect Atokos and its wildlife by enforcing the rules of this Natura 2000 area.
Animals are not tourist attractions.
Please sign and share this petition before more animals suffer.
