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EASY GAME: ARMENIAN CONSERVATIONISTS ALARMED BY CONTINUED POACHING OF RED BOOK SPECIES
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
14.09.11 | 10:23
Environmentalists in Armenia are concerned over the continuing poaching
of animals that must be protected by the State.
Meanwhile, those in charge of the sphere give assurances that poaching
cases in the country have been decreasing from year to year. They
also say that Armenia remains committed to protecting animals that
are in the Red Book of endangered species.
In an interview with ArmeniaNow, Aram Aghasyan, head of the Department
of Preserves of the Environment Ministry's Bioresources Management
Agency, said that cases of poaching in reserves are "few and far
between". He explained it by the fact that measures have been taken
in recent years to enhance the protection regime in such areas,
including the recruitment of more personnel, provision of vehicles,
fuel is provided, the territories are fitted out with modern guard
equipment, etc..
But environmentalists still insist that unlike in reserves in national
parks and reservations poaching cases occur more frequently. And in
areas that are not specially protected it is easier to catch animals
whose hunting is prohibited. Every month the Environment Ministry
publishes the results of the State Environmental Inspection's checkups
that on the average record 5-6 cases of illegal hunting a month. Most
of them are connected with the poaching of fish and crab. According
to the data for the first six months of this year, 71 violations were
revealed (79 during the same period of 2010).
Quite recently, near the town of Kapan in Armenia's southern Syunik
province two Bezoar goats (ibex) were killed. Police arrested three
persons suspected of poaching and killing the animals that are included
in the Red Book. One of the three confessed to killing the goats with
an illegally kept rifle. According to a police statement, damage of
about 6 million drams (some $16,000) had been caused to the state.
The fine for hunting the Bezoar goat and Armenian mouflon (sheep)
that are entered into the Red Data Book of Armenia is 3 million drams
(about $8,000) and for hunting the Caucasian gray bear is 1 million
drams (about $2,700). The amount of the fine is increased fivefold
if the poaching is committed in specially protected areas.
Armenia's official hunting season begins on August 27 and ends on
February 27. Every year the Ministry of Environmental Protection
publishes a list of animals that may be hunted by hunters who
purchase state licenses. And among the allowed game are quail, pigeons,
partridges, snipes, larks, starlings, thrushes, gray crows and magpies,
swimming birds, foxes, wild boars and hares.
Environmental sector officials say poaching decreases during the
period of hunting.
Speaking about poaching, environmentalists first point out Lake Sevan's
condition. Leading environmentalist Karine Danielyan says the lake has
become "fishless" because of years of unsparing fishing and poaching.
"And it is not only the matter of fish, the absence of fish resulted
in the decline of the quality of the lake's water, and the lake is
swamping," said the environmentalist. "We have the same problem with
our forests. Why do wolves attack residential areas? First because
the forest and wood areas have shrunk and secondly because their food
base has reduced. Eventually, hunger drives the beast into places
populated by man. The ecosystem's food chain has been disturbed. This
phenomenon should be a wake-up call for us."
Ecolur environmental organization head Inga Zarafyan stresses that
instead of ordinary poachers those who use the results of this
poaching must be punished in the first place. The environmentalist
says a number of restaurants in their menus offer meat of animals
whose hunting is forbidden.
From: A. Papazian
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
14.09.11 | 10:23
Environmentalists in Armenia are concerned over the continuing poaching
of animals that must be protected by the State.
Meanwhile, those in charge of the sphere give assurances that poaching
cases in the country have been decreasing from year to year. They
also say that Armenia remains committed to protecting animals that
are in the Red Book of endangered species.
In an interview with ArmeniaNow, Aram Aghasyan, head of the Department
of Preserves of the Environment Ministry's Bioresources Management
Agency, said that cases of poaching in reserves are "few and far
between". He explained it by the fact that measures have been taken
in recent years to enhance the protection regime in such areas,
including the recruitment of more personnel, provision of vehicles,
fuel is provided, the territories are fitted out with modern guard
equipment, etc..
But environmentalists still insist that unlike in reserves in national
parks and reservations poaching cases occur more frequently. And in
areas that are not specially protected it is easier to catch animals
whose hunting is prohibited. Every month the Environment Ministry
publishes the results of the State Environmental Inspection's checkups
that on the average record 5-6 cases of illegal hunting a month. Most
of them are connected with the poaching of fish and crab. According
to the data for the first six months of this year, 71 violations were
revealed (79 during the same period of 2010).
Quite recently, near the town of Kapan in Armenia's southern Syunik
province two Bezoar goats (ibex) were killed. Police arrested three
persons suspected of poaching and killing the animals that are included
in the Red Book. One of the three confessed to killing the goats with
an illegally kept rifle. According to a police statement, damage of
about 6 million drams (some $16,000) had been caused to the state.
The fine for hunting the Bezoar goat and Armenian mouflon (sheep)
that are entered into the Red Data Book of Armenia is 3 million drams
(about $8,000) and for hunting the Caucasian gray bear is 1 million
drams (about $2,700). The amount of the fine is increased fivefold
if the poaching is committed in specially protected areas.
Armenia's official hunting season begins on August 27 and ends on
February 27. Every year the Ministry of Environmental Protection
publishes a list of animals that may be hunted by hunters who
purchase state licenses. And among the allowed game are quail, pigeons,
partridges, snipes, larks, starlings, thrushes, gray crows and magpies,
swimming birds, foxes, wild boars and hares.
Environmental sector officials say poaching decreases during the
period of hunting.
Speaking about poaching, environmentalists first point out Lake Sevan's
condition. Leading environmentalist Karine Danielyan says the lake has
become "fishless" because of years of unsparing fishing and poaching.
"And it is not only the matter of fish, the absence of fish resulted
in the decline of the quality of the lake's water, and the lake is
swamping," said the environmentalist. "We have the same problem with
our forests. Why do wolves attack residential areas? First because
the forest and wood areas have shrunk and secondly because their food
base has reduced. Eventually, hunger drives the beast into places
populated by man. The ecosystem's food chain has been disturbed. This
phenomenon should be a wake-up call for us."
Ecolur environmental organization head Inga Zarafyan stresses that
instead of ordinary poachers those who use the results of this
poaching must be punished in the first place. The environmentalist
says a number of restaurants in their menus offer meat of animals
whose hunting is forbidden.
From: A. Papazian