The shooting season for 'ducks' in the Larnaca Salt Lakes area is open. Although this is regular annual practice, and the bag is limited to 3 ducks per hunter/day, it is potentially dangerous for other rare and protected species which use the lakes as a stopover

Apart from the highest numbers of Red-crested Pochard and Ruddy Shelduck that Cyprus has ever recorded, there is a lso a large flock of Black-necked Grebe plus numerous Bewick's Swans [the first ever for Cyprus], Red Breasted and White-fronted Geese. In addition there are well over a thousand Greater Flamingo.

Local environmentalists have a protest march in Nicosia on Saturday 9. Feb.

The shooting season is from 15. January - 20.February.

[The protest starts at 1100 hours today, meeting at the Acropolis and then a march on the Ministry]

LEND YOUR SUPPORT.

I have included the addressees of:

The President of Cyprus and responsible ministers in the following link.

Send the text below, or use your own words, to the addresses given.

SEND MAIL HERE

Not sure what to do? Click on the following link:

Mailing Methods

CONTROL HUNTING ON THE LARNACA SALT LAKES

Dear President,
Dear Ministers,

With the good progress being made or planned for the protection of birds on Cyprus, it is to be hoped that the duck shooting in the Larnaca Salt Lakes area is strictly controlled this year, and law-breakers punished.

Apart from the highest numbers of Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) and Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) that Cyprus has ever recorded, the Salt Lakes are at present providing a transit stopover for a large flock of Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) plus numerous Bewick's Swans (Cygnus columbianus) [the first ever for Cyprus], Red Breasted and White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons). In addition there are well over a thousand Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber).

It would be criminal to allow hunters anywhere near these protected birds.

The Salt Lakes are not only a Birdlife International Important Bird Area (IBA) they also represent Cyprus' ONLY Ramsar (wetlands) site.

We urge you to do all in your power to prevent any avoidable tragedy.


Yours sincerely,


[Name and Address - essential!]

If you send an email separately, please copy it to:

This helps us, at Proact and on Cyprus, to monitor the scope of the campaign and increase our effectiveness in future.

Thank you,

David Conlin
Proact Coord

The Cyprus Government