THE FORESTRY Department and Game Fund have announced that they will work together in order to increase Cyprus’ dwindling vulture population.
The story begins 15 years ago, with the Forestry Department initiating a programme for the conservation of the Griffon vulture in Cyprus.
However, in 2003, the law gave the Game Fund bird protection authority, but the Forestry Department continued with its conservation programme and duly succeeded in reproducing three vultures in captivity.
In 2004, a special committee was set up comprising the Forestry Department, Game Fund, Veterinary and Environmental Services, Shepherd’s Union and Bird Life Cyprus.
All parties agreed that drastic measures needed to be taken and it was suggested that the best way to proceed was to bring in young vultures from Spain to breed with the local population.
The Forestry Department is insisting, however, that another way to repopulate Cyprus is through reproduction in captivity.
A meeting involving all relevant parties to discuss the best way to move forward has been called for January 28.
Commenting, Bird Life Cyprus issued the following statement: “The two parties must join forces and finalise one way of dealing with the issue. We favour the introduction of birds from Spain as this will produce quicker results, cost less and will see viable breeding colonies within five years.”
The statement went on to say that the situation regarding the vulture population is desperate. “The 11th hour has passed and we need action from everybody and top-level backing for a massive push to save these disappearing species.”
Commenting, Director of the Game Fund Pantelis Hadjiyerou told the Mail that the issue is very complex and that all parties must respect the suggestions put forward by the committee in ten days.
“What I can say is that what we term the threshold frequency of the vultures is below the required level, meaning they will die out eventually on the island as they are critically endangered. We must all work together to stop this from happening.”
Haris Nicolaou of the Forestry Department agreed. “The vulture population cannot recover by itself and there are currently only 15 Griffon vultures remaining in the wild. It goes without saying that something needs to be done, and quickly.”
Cyprus’ vultures
CYPRUS used to be home to the Black vulture until 1984, when it became extinct. In 2001, however, a young male, believed to have come from Turkey, appeared and was subsequently placed in the Vretchia aviary.
The griffon vulture is one of the largest predator birds and its natural habitat is the cliffs of the Mediterranean. Weighing up to 10kg and with a life expectancy of 70 years, a wingspan of two and a half metres allows gliding for food for hours with little effort.
The population of vultures has dropped drastically as the birds struggle with modern development, which has stripped them of their habitat and sources of food. Forty years ago, the Griffon vulture population exceeded 1,000.
The Griffon population suffered a major blow in 1997 when 36 died in one go after feeding off poisoned carcasses intended for foxes.
Over the years, the bird has been threatened by hunters, but primarily from Cyprus’ shift away from traditional farming – its main source of food – to a tourism-driven economy which has seen a good deal of coastal habitat submerged in concrete or cluttered with brightly-coloured beach umbrellas.
