THE FUTURE survival of Cyprus’ endangered native grass snake, natrix natrix cypriaca, came a step closer to being ensured yesterday after agriculture minister Demetris Eliades pledged his support for the snake’s conservation.
In an impromptu private audience, Eliades told Cyprus’ leading reptile expert and conservationist, Hans-Jorg Wiedl: “I care about the natrix natrix cypriaca. This is an utmost priority, not because we are in front of European court, but because we have to save our nature and this unique creature. We have to respect our environment.”
Wiedl, also known as Snake George, went to the ministry yesterday to present to the minister with a petition of 1,225 signatures, which called on the EU and the government to take immediate action to protect the snake’s habitat from illegal building, fly-tipping and hunting that has brought it to the verge of extinction.
The petition also called on the government to provide urgently needed resources for Wiedl to establish a captive breeding programme for the Cyprus Grass Snake in Paphos. According to reports, the government has made available €1.2 million for environmental conservation projects and €80,000 for the Paralimni lake area.
Eliades said that the process of safeguarding the snake’s environment around Paralimni was ongoing and that before the meeting Wiedl he wrote to the environmental service director about the issue.
He said: “I have just signed a letter answering (the director) on the preparation of the administration management plan” adding that he would recommend the department contact Wiedl to take on board his views.
Wiedl’s petition coincides with the inclusion of Paralimni Lake in the EU’s Natura 2000 conservation scheme. This scheme aims to assure the long-term survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats by declaring them as Special Areas of Conservation.
Paralimni is a seasonal lake that disappears entirely during the hot summer months. It is the grass snake’s most important habitat and is the second biggest site of its kind after Larnaca salt lake.
In addition to the lake, the Oroklini Lake wetland and the Faros seaside area in Paphos, have been added to the network.
Wiedl will leave Cyprus on January 24 but has promised to return if the Cyprus government offers to fund a captive breeding programme.
The minister added “A lot of things have been done, for example, we have removed all the rubbish (from around the lake) and we are very willing and very ready to do a good job in the Paralimni area.”
