Anger, disgust and sadness were caused by images of two dead flamingos in Aliki Messolonghi, which circulated on social media a few days ago. The shocking images have been released by the Messolonghi National Park and Protected Areas Authority of Western Central Greece.

The park in question is one of the richest wetlands in Europe both in terms of species and population. The ecosystem, covering a total area of ​​616,000 ha, is included in the Natura 2000 network as a Special Conservation Area, as well as a Special Protected Area for Birds.

The report, released by the park administration, said, among other things, that the flamingos were found dead on Monday, January 23rd. The incident was recorded by Mr. Lampros XArelos (former external supervisory partner – guarded management units) and Konstantinos Hiros (Keeper of the Zoological Park of Attica), during a visit to observe and photograph the species. Domestic bird.

Cases of injuries and poaching are not uncommon.

L. Harelos, one of the two men who reported the incident to the Messolonga Forestry Department, told K that one flamingo was still warm when spotted. “Five minutes ago we heard shots, so we ran to the scene as quickly as possible. We found ammo around the birds. We believe that they were shooting at point-blank range, from the street,” he emphasizes.

Incidents with dead, but also seriously injured birds have now become more frequent, notes “K” a local partner of the Hellenic Ornithological Society. Nikos Nulas. As he explains, “In six months, I collected 15 dead birds, seabirds, and also raptors. Eight cases were due to poaching and the rest were due to collisions with power lines.”

OUR Ruler Trigothe information coordinator of the Hellenic Ornithological Society, in turn, informs “K” that silver pelicans and palm stone (scientific name flamingos) are under constant threat. “In fact, the threat is twofold. One is heavy poaching and the other is aerial cables, especially in the Claysoura lagoon. Many birds fall on these wires at night. Most often they are killed instantly.. Three not so long ago silver pelicans they also lost their lives in this way.”

As for flamingos, these, according to R. Trigu, they are shot at just like targets, as part of a test of… good marksmanship. Not so with them, of course. mallards park, which are considered an excellent link.

Almost no security in a huge park

And how is poaching tracked? The main responsible for the protection of the park is OFIPECA together with the forest department and related products in animal guard Mesolongs.

OUR George Watermelonvice president of the Messolonga Hunting Association, insists that the two flamingos died not as a result of illegal hunting, but as a result of hitting a pole inside a building rented by a salt collection company that operates on the park.

However John Selimashead of the governing body, in an interview with “K”: “There is no doubt that the birds were shot.. Two guards working at the agency saw illegal hunters, but did not have time to stop them. The problem of poaching is acute. A few days ago, in the Toli region, at the mouth of the Aheloy, hunters on boats illegally entered the river. Their goal is to kill waterfowl. By the time we got to the scene, they had managed to escape.”

However, everyone who spoke with “K” agrees on one thing.: protection of this vast territory is practically absent and cannot solve the problem of poaching.

G. Selimas claims that the guards available in the detachment for this entire area are hardly three, dHey contract holders and an external partner whose contract is renewed every six months. At the moment, an external partner (previously it was L. Harelos, who noticed dead flamingos), did not existj. The forestry of Messolonghi also helps in conservation. However, as G. Selimas and also G. Watermelon, understaffed the forest office is still engaged in deforestation, deforestation, fires, encroachments coke.

In addition, only forestry employees, but also Animal protection (which employs one employee, and sometimes one seasonal), they can arrest, pursue and interrogate the poacher. OL. Harelos, who has experience in protecting this vast territory, emphasizes that the forestry “does not exist”, and patrols in the very center of the park are also negligible.

G. Selimas admits it’s a big open wound of the park. As he put it: “We are concerned about the lack of security. The agency needs support in this area.”

Hunting in a protected area

And hunting may be prohibited in the area where the two dead flamingos were found, but not in the entire park. OUR Kostas Papantonioumember Board of Directors The Ornithological Society notes that the fact that hunting is allowed in many scattered areas of the park exacerbates the problem, as many hunters end up moving en masse within the protected area.

He himself has been carefully observing the area for many years. As he notes, “especially at the Bird Observatory in the east Klisova there is an image that should not be anywhere else in the world. Next to the birdwatchers, next to the students who came on an excursion, as well as tourists, hunters pass unhindered, heading supposedly to places where hunting is allowed.

While schoolchildren are being escorted around the playground, they constantly hear shots all around them. From the moment the hunters enter the park, the situation is not “folding”. And that’s because in Messolonghi all hunters, regardless of education, class and party origin. First you become a hunter and thenanything Another. There is tolerance with attributes omerta, against hunting.”

G. Selimas emphasizes that the main reason why hunting is allowed in the park is that a complete ban in a place with such a deep hunting culture would have the opposite effect.

As for how they distinguish between protected areas when hunters move in the area, who come on weekends, according to G. Watermelon, even 150 people in placeshe says that most hunters download on smartphones im it barcode issued annually by the Hunt Federation on where they are allowed to move and where they are not.