An extreme case of poaching has come to public knowledge from Lesvos on the 22/09/2007. It was discovered by game wardens and confirmed by the President of the Hunting Association of Archipelagos, Mr Pantelis Lemanis.
By utilizing illegal lures, 32 Corn Crakes Crex crex were killed by poachers, in the municipality of Ayiasos. The Corn Crake is a world threatened species, protected by the European Birds Directive with many protection projects are currently being carried out in North and West Europe to save the species.
This incident goes far beyond the verges of poaching. As regards to basic actions for the protection of wild birds and generally nature, this case exposes our country worldwide as one of the member states characterized by inability and lack of will. «The most worrying is that, based on many testimonies that were made public recently, this incident is just the tip of the iceberg and Corn Crake poaching in central and southern Lesvos is a very frequent phenomenon. Moreover, Lesvos is one of the most popular ecotourism destinations for ornithologists in the Mediterranean and this kind of incidences undermines greatly the effort of attracting tourists” testifies Kostas Papaconstantinou, HOS member.
Charges have been pressed against the three poachers at the Forest Department of Lesvos and their licenses, guns and of course, the rare birds have been confiscated.
The Hellenic Ornithological Society is closely and with great interest following the case, hoping that this incident can become a good example for fair law enforcement.