Six NGO together with two Management Bodies of Protection Areas, denounce one of the largest poisoning episodes in Greece which ended with six poisoned rare large birds of prey.
The birds were found around of two wild horses shot dead in the Straits of Nestos, an area of outstanding importance at a European level for the protection of large predators and part of the Natura 2000 network. This is the most serious poisoning incident affecting birds of prey in recent years and exposes Greece worldwide. ελληνικά
The illegal use of poisoned baits is unfortunately a common practice in Greece, but this incident is particularly serious due to the fact that the whole animals were used as poisoned baits, which increased the number or rare species. The use of poison aims to kill carnivores such as wolves and bears, because of the damage they cause to livestock and crops. The problem is exacerbated by the failure of the State in compensating damages, the inadequate guarding in Protected Areas, the lack of mechanisms to control the movement and the use of pesticides.
Vulture is a threatened species included in the Red Book of Endangered Animals of Greece. Fewer than 30 pairs survive in mainland Greece; the Straits of Nestos host the largest colony of the species. It is particularly worrying that only by this incident has left at least, as the investigations continue, the 7% of the total population on the mainland.
As for the endangered golden eagles, whose population in recent years has been greatly reduced, recent evidence of Greek Ornithological Society for Thrace record 30 pairs, representing approximately 20% of the national population. This population is particularly vulnerable since the incident killed three adults and one immature, i.e. the entire breeding population of the Straits of Nestos. It is also important to note that during the last two years three cases of shot dead wild horses have occurred.
In the current economic crisis it is imperative to ensure sustainable development of local communities. The protection of unique natural wealth is the basis of this perspective. In this direction, the district has received from European funds more than 2 million Euros for the protection of certain bird species and habitat management, while Greece participates with neighboring countries in the Balkan Action Plan for Vultures. This incident has therefore an impact of international dimensions and it finishes up with these EU efforts and neighboring countries.
The managers of protected areas of the neighborhood and environmental groups are in excellent cooperation with the local authorities immediately and expect to find the perpetrator and exemplary punishment. This incident should be the last frame in a sad series of embarrassing images that poison the Greek nature.
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Environmental crime with International dimensions in the Strait of Nestos