A Dalmatian pelican was found shot in the National Park of Evros Delta, on Sunday, January 10th. The Dalmatian pelican was found in the area of Kalavos by a joint patrol team of the Hellenic Ornithological Society and the Forestry Department of Alexandroupolis. This patrol was carried out under the framework of the Smart Patrol System of the LIFE10 NAT/GR/638 project for the protection of the Lesser White-fronted Goose.
The National Park Management Body collected the dead bird, which was later x-rayed, and the examination confirmed that the pelican was shot. This is one more sad incident added to the list of poaching events, which unfortunately, are not rare in the protected area of the Evros Delta, with the most recent incident being another shot Dalmatian pelican, at the beginning of 2015.
The incident is particularly significant because the Dalmatian pelican is a Globally Threatened species, and since Greece hosts over 30% of the species world population, it holds great responsibility for its protection.
Also, it is particularly alarming that this incident occurred to an easily recognizable species, unmistakable not only by its size, but also by its silhouette. It should thus presumably be impossible to confuse it with any of the huntable species, something that identifies the incident as a pure case of intentional poaching, and indeed within the heart of the National Park.
The Smart Patrol System for the protection of the lesser white-fronted goose, is implemented in the Evros Delta and Kerkini Lake areas, in the framework of LIFE+ Nature Programme “Safeguarding the lesser white-fronted goose fennoscandian population in key wintering and staging sites within the European flyway” (LIFE10 NAT/GR/000638). The Programme is implemented by the Hellenic Ornithological Society during the 2011-2016 period, with the contribution of the European Union LIFE+ financial instrument and the co-financing of the Norwegian Environment Agency.
More information:
Hellenic Ornithological Society
Roula Trigou Public Awareness Projects Coordinator
+30 210 8227937 & +30 210 8228704 int.118
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Management Body of the National Park of Evros Delta
Eleni Makrigianni, Science Coordinator
Tel.: +30 25510 61000
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