Snake George has presented the Petition to the Cyprus Government .

With over 1,400 signatures from supporters in Cyprus, Europe and Worldwide it should be listened to and action urgently taken to safeguard The Cyprus Grass Snake in its broken habitats on the island.

Please read the Article in the Cyprus Mail below plus Comments.

http://www.cypruspetitions.com/petition_details.php?petition_id=25

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The Cyprus Reptile Society

Dear Friends and Members

After searching for 3 years for land to build a new Reptile Park, and also a Breeding Centre for the Cyprus Grass Snake, unfortunately we have had no success, and no help from the Cyprus Government.

For that reason I will be leaving Cyprus in mid January for Austria, where I have had a good offer from the Austrian Government to do observation and research on amphibians and reptiles.

It will be at a place where I grew up and where I know I will be made welcome and I am sure the people will appreciate what I am doing. While I am there I will also write a book.

I will stay for about nine months until the first snowfall at the end of September or beginning on October.

In case the Cyprus Government will contact me to include me in the breeding program of the Cyprus Grass Snake I will come back in Cyprus.

In one year I receive about 150 emails and about 300 telephone calls from people who want me to help them. Since the closure of my park in Peyia two years ago, I still receive several calls and emails every day from people who want to visit the park.

The Cyprus Government do not realize what I have done and how much help I have given them in the last fourteen years.

I feel very disappointed looking back at all the experiences, and especially about the Cyprus Grass Snake, which I believe we have already lost in the wild.

I am sure I will enjoy and find happiness again with my new job in Austria.

We will keep in touch and you will find updates on our website www.rochfordessex.net/cyprusreptiles

There is a project we have in mind in Cyprus and if this is successful I am sure you will be very pleased. We will still carry on with the Cyprus Reptile Society.

Best Regards

Snake George

Paphos, Cyprus

December 2010

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George says ”To be honest the decision from the Government to give the University this project is not bad. I believe that in Greece they have also very good scientists and also they have the “grass snake” for themselves and the communication between Cyprus and Greece is of course much better for them so lets see what happens next.”

He went on to say “Nick  also told me that I should write a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture which should be like an application to get involved with this project.”

George is also finalising the legal formalities for the Cyprus Reptile Society and will announce the details soon.

The Cyprus Reptiles web site  will let you know more of George’s plans for 2011 as soon as we have further news from him.

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(The content was provided by Snake George and organised for presentation by Linda Crossley and John Mason)

Summary

Possible Endangerment of the Cyprus Grass Snake (Natrix natrix cypriaca) during clean up at Paralimni by Cyprus Government.

Earth Moving at Paralimni

Background

In 1995, I contacted The Ministry of Agriculture and told them about the big problem about pollution, the hunters and
motocross at Paralimni Lakes. I found many dead grass snakes shot and killed in different ways and a terrible situation with the rubbish around the lake.

Since 1995 the three successive Ministers of Agriculture promised that they will start from now own to do everything to save the grass snake. But they did nothing so the situation became worse from one year to another. There was never
anything done from the Government to save the grass snake.

October/November 2011

I visited Paralimni during the recent period of civil engineering works.

This action was published in Phileleftheros on 15 November 2010 (as attached in the Greek language only).

Government Action at Paralmini – Phileleftheros on 15 November 2010

It was from the beginning the biggest mistake not to collect grass snakes from this area before the civil engineering works were carried out.

I believe that because of this extensive civil engineering work The Government has killed the last grass snakes in the area and exposed them unduly to predators.

I am quite sure if they had informed me what they are planning to do there was a chance I could save at least some of the grass snakes.

From the petrol EKO station they put oil in the channel and everyone knows what that means.

The hunters had their festival on the lake as we found so many dead birds and all the promises that the Government would stop to give permission for hunting at that area was not true.

It would be impossible for the grass snake to survive.

I would like that someone from the EU from Brussels to come and see the Paralimni lake or Xyliatou dam or even the other streams in the Troodos where the grass snake used to live and now is gone.

[Note : The EU Commission for the Environment has been informed with a copy of the report as evidence (12/10). 'Yannis.COUNINIOTIS [at] ec.europa [dot] eu' tells us that he responsible for monitoring the legal action being taken by the EU against  Cyprus.]

We can just pray and hope that there is somewhere a small population of grass snakes which might survive.If you wish to see George’s pictorial report please click below;

Endangerment of the Cyprus Grass Snake

[Charalampos Theopemptou, Cyprus Commissioner for the Environment was unable to help; see Comment below detailing his email response to the report.]

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Choletria by Linda Crossley

Since Snake George had to close his Reptile Park in Ayios Georgios, Peyia, a number of landowners have either offered land or made commercial proposals to George for re-establishment of his reptile park or for a captive breeding site for the endangered reptiles of Cyprus.

Some of these have been referred to in various articles on the internet but it would seem that for one reason or another none of these opportunities have, so far, been able to proceed. A Google search will reveal references to monastery land in Ayios Neophytos, another in Kritou Terra and one in Tsada to name but a few.

In an interview with the Cyprus Mail in January 2009, Snake George said “For the last three years, I’ve been trying to find a suitable piece of land, but all I get are empty promises. First it was the land opposite the park, then in Peyia, Tala and Yeroskipou. Promises are made, and then at the last moment, nothing happens.” Land was available near the monastery of Agios Neophytos, and it appeared that the park was saved. Then the Muchtar showed up with a petition from 1500 villagers saying that they didn’t want the park there – they were afraid that the snakes might escape.”

In September 2009 my wife and I offered Snake George the use of 10,000 m2 in Choletria. He has now said that we should try to establish a project on this site.

This was the subject of an interesting discussion thread on Cyprus Snakes which was exchanged on the popular Paphos Forum, CyprusLiving, which is generously run by well known Paphian, Jim Cross.

Hans-Jorg Wiedl aka Snake George

The story goes that Snake George went to see the Mayor of Choletria who welcomed the opportunity of bringing the benefits of tourism and, in particular, agrotourism to his village. Unfortunately he was personally uncertain as to the location of the land and everyone else that George was subsequently introduced to wanted to sell him land instead !!!

When I finally found out what had happened (and laughed a lot) I took Snake George and his assistant, Linda Crossley to the land which we extensively surveyed over two days this November.

The best access is over a century old agricultural track which quaintly runs along the boundaries of adjoining plots which crucially does not require the legal grant of access.

Both George and Linda had no doubts that Choletria was in a wonderful strategic position being on a main route to the Troodos, East of Paphos, West of Limassol, near the A6 Motorway and incredibly just ten minutes from Paphos International Airport.

Linda was also impressed by the wonderful views over the Xeros Potamos River Valley which are second to none in Cyprus in an unspoilt paradise.

Choletria by Linda Crossley

George said to me “My friend you have offered a fantastic piece of land in Choletria. It is a paradise.  For such a project like this nothing could be better, and as you know land has been a problem for the project. With no charge and no rent for a really long term this is of course is one of the most important questions for this project. Let us see what we can achieve in the near future.”

Nick Symons, the Director of CESC (The Cyprus Environmental Studies Centre), which could be a bidder for funding from the Cyprus Government under the EU LIFE Project for both the captive breeding programme for the Cyprus Grass Snake, the Cyprus Whip Snake and the River Terrapin and the education and awareness project said;

“The land in Choletria is indeed of great interest and I am thrilled with your idea to dedicate it to the reptiles in perpetuity. I believe it would be a good location for both educational and scientific aspects, and naturally we would aim to fund-raise for the full cost of developing it for those purposes. I think it would also make any proposal much stronger if the Government and funding body could see clear evidence that the land issue is already covered.”

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Snake George, whose name is Hans-George Wiedl is a conservationist whose speciality is reptiles.

He is proposing much stricter protection of habitats, combined with a really well-planned captive breeding programme to safeguard the genetic stock.  His focus is on the area around Paralmni Lake, which is being developed to the detriment of the grass snake (Natrix natrix cypriaca).

The petition will be delivered to the Government “as soon as possible as a real show of support for this critically endangered and beautiful animal,” he said. Snake George warned last month that the species was under threat.

He said: “The whole environment around the lake has changed for the worst. I would not be surprised if the grass snake at Paralimni has disappeared altogether.” He said that even if there was still a small number of grass snakes in the area they would soon disappear.

Earlier this week environmental services officer Charalambos Hadjipakos warned deputies at the House that he had received reports that people with “twisted minds” had been shooting grass snakes at the Paralimni Lake.

Pantelis Hadjiyerou, Director of the Cyprus Game Fund said that he had heard similar reports but after investigating found no proof of such a phenomenon.

“There are limited chances of a person finding grass snakes, let alone killing them with a gun,” he said.

Cyprus has already been in trouble with the European Commission, which has sent a notice requiring that Paralimni Lake be designated a “site of community importance” (SCI). However the government ignored this by allowing development around the lake, which is home to the grass snake.

Barbara Helfferich, spokeswoman for the Environment at the European Commission said: “The Commission considered that the Cypriot authorities had not taken the necessary measures to protect the Cyprus grass snake, contrary to the requirements of directives on the conservation and habitats of flora and fauna.”

The Famagusta municipality under instructions from the Interior Minister has done some work to improve the site, local district officer George Antoniadis said: “We cleaned out a lot of the debris, waste from local farmers and levelled the motocross which affected the lake.”

Anyone interested in signing Snake George’s petition can do so online at http://www.cypruspetitions.com/petition_details.php?petition_id=25

By Constantinos Ioannou, Published on December 11, 2010 in the Cyprus Mail

George also told the Editor of Cyprus Reptiles “The situation at Paralimni is that they have started to clean up around the lake.”

 “They have flattened the area from the motor-cross sight but the hunters are more active than ever before and is disappointing that the Government does not declare this area as a Nature Reserve Area which they promised more than 10 years ago.”

“I haven’t seen anymore Grass Snakes and I am afraid we will never see Grass Snakes at Paralimni again. In Xyliatos Dam the Grass Snake has gone and also in the streams in Troodos.”

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Why is the Cyprus Grass Snake NOT Red Listed?

What is the Red List and why is it important?

The European Red List is a review of the conservation status of c. 6,000 European species (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fishes, butterflies, dragonflies, and selected groups of beetles, molluscs, and vascular plants) according to IUCN regional Red Listing guidelines.

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/redlist/index_en.htm)

It is supposed to identify those species that are threatened with extinction at the European level – so that appropriate conservation action can be taken to improve their status.

It seems incomprehensible that the Cyprus Grass Snake is not Red Listed because it is listed in the EU LIFE Project for a captive breeding programme to be established in 2011.

So what has gone wrong here?  Does it matter? Yes, because it has not been Red Listed it is been overlooked for priority for action and is in real danger of imminent extinction.

It is extinct in Xyliatos and Paralimni and greatly endangered in the Troodos according to the Baier Wiedl paper of 2008.  There may have been then, only just up to 100 individuals surviving.

How many survive now?

We have asked the IUCN why it has not included the Cyprus Grass Snake in the Red List.

The explanation is as follows;

Many thanks for your email and many apologies that your previous emails to IUCN have gone unanswered. I am not sure who those emails went to, but they do not appear to have reached the IUCN Red List Unit.

 At present we have two assessments for the Grass Snake on the IUCN Red List:

1)      An old 1996 global listing for the species as a whole – see http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/14368/0  (this includes its European and Asian range) and under that are two old subspecies listings, but these do not include N. n. cypriaca. These global listings are all long over-due for updating, but we do not have the resources in place for this at present.

 2)      The European Regional assessment for the Grass Snake – see http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/14368/1 which was done in 2009. Unfortunately the European Reptile Assessment was focussed purely at the species level and did not consider separate subspecies listings at all. I see that the account does make some comments about N. n. cypriaca including on its scarcity and possible distinctness taxonomically. There are a number of other subspecies in Europe e.g. N. n. cettii and N. n. corsa which should probably also be listed as threatened.

Unfortunately, until such time as we are able to assess the global status of the species as a whole, we will not be able to include assessments of any of these subspecies on the IUCN Red List. It also sounds as though this species complex is in need of taxonomic revision.

 Best wishes

Craig

Craig Hilton-Taylor
Manager UK Office & Red List Unit
Species Programme
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, United Kingdom
Tel. +44 1223 277966; Fax +44 1223 277845;
www.iucn.org and http://wwwiucnredlist.org

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Richard says in his letter ;

” I share your concerns over the extinction on this endangered species and I have written to Mr Papoulias. I will contact you again when I have a reply.”

“Thank you for contacting me on this important issue. Please be assured of my best intentions at all times.”

That means that in the UK we have political support from the Lib Dems,UKIP and Labour each of which has asked the EU Commission for the Environment to take action to ensure that the Cyprus Grass Snake is saved from extinction.

Snake George is pleased to have such support and looks forward to hearing what the MEP’s find out from the EU.

In Cyprus questions are being asked by DISY and the Cyprus Green Party informed us that a Parliamentary Committee on the “Natrix” met yesterday, 9 December in Nicosia.

We also hear that a decision might be made by the Cyprus Government as early as 17 December on the way forward with the captive breeding programmes listed under the EU LIFE Project where it is understood that funding is already available from the EU.

George looks forward to hearing from someone in the Government as soon as possible after that date as to whether the Cyprus Government needs his help or not.

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Snake George and The Cyprus Reptile Society thank DISY fot their support which is gratefully received.

What is DISY? 

DEMOCRATIC RALLY OF CYPRUS
DIMOKRATIKOS SYNAGERMOS (DISY)

 Glafcos Clerides, founder of DISY and Honorary President,
elected President of the Republic 1993-1998 and 1998-2003

 Founded: 1976
Members: 35 000
President: Nicos Anastasiades
Deputy President: Averof Neophytou
Director General: Panayiotis Antoniou 
International Secretary: Alexandros Sinka 
Share of vote: 30,34% (Parliamentary elections 21 May 2006)
MPs: 18 (out of 56-seat Parliament)

The Democratic Rally is one of the biggest parties of Cyprus and is involved all aspects of political life in the island, strongly represented at all levels of local authority, with numerous mayors and local councillors.

Read more here and here.

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MEP’s from the UK, representing UKIP and the Liberal Democrats, have pledged active support for the campaign to save the Cyprus Grass Snake from extinction and set up a captive breeding program.
 
Both political parties will be writing to European Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potocnik (janez.potocnik [at] ec.europa [dot] eu.) asking him for assurances that the Commission will follow this up immediately with the Republic of Cyprus requesting detailed action plans with dates for all conservation activities that are required to save this species.
 
Snake George had learnt earlier in the week from a telephone call from Germany that the caller was 100% sure that the Government of Cyprus had already received the funding from the EU for the LIFE project which includes the establishment of a captive breeding programme for the Cyprus Grass Snake.
 
If that is the case why is George not being provided with those resources?

Both UKIP and the Liberal Democrats have also been asked to pursue this issue in the EU Parliament.

Politicians in the UK are helping to save The Cyprus Grass Snake, wildlife experts in Austria are campaigning too, along with supporters in Switzerland and individual members of the Cyprus Green Party are supportive too but Snake George has expressed his disappointment that although the “Green” Cyprus Commissioner of the Environment, Charalampos Theopemptou, has tried to get agreement for a captive breeding programme from the Cyprus Government this has not materialised in nearly a year of fulfilling numerous requests for information punctuated with lengthy silences. 

In terms of political action George feels that neither the European Greens or the Cyprus Green Party have apparently done as much as UK politicians 2000 miles from Cyprus have pledged to do so quickly.
 
George says “Perhaps people should ask environmentally interested political parties if they can show that they have done everything they possibly can to save endemic species from becoming extinct including taking vigorous independent political action themselves which may prove unpopular with the authorities.”

“If the Lib Dems and UKIP in the UK can do this in Europe then it is difficult to understand that the ”Green Movement” in Europe cannot do the same !!”

The Official Line from the Cyprus Government on The Cyprus Grass Snake is;

“I would like to assure you that the competent authorities are fully aware of the issues that you raise in your email and that all of our efforts are concentrated in achieving a conservation regime for all the species and habitats in the Natura 2000 sites, including the vey important species of Natrix natrix cypriaca. Thank you for your interest.”

George’s response to this is “I have worked hard for 18 years since I discovered the Cyprus Grass Snake at Xyliatos Dam and later at Paralimni and again in the Troodos Mountains. I had a lot of support from many European countries but no financial assistance, which meant that I was unable to carry on with my observations. There were many articles in the newspapers and also broadcast on TV but my voice perhaps was not strong enough to get the right attention. That is why we are now in this situation of the Cyprus Grass Snake is on the brink of extinction on this island. Let’s hope it is not too late.”

• The Cyprus Grass Snake is now extinct at Xyliatos and Paralimni Lake
• It is endangered in the Troodos Foothills and facing probable extinction
• No captive breeding programme has been established

The Cyprus Government obviously does not realise this and every effort must now be made to save The Cyprus Grass Snake by campaigning in Europe. 

George is currently visiting Paralimni Lake to investigate the conservation actions that the Cyprus Government has taken very recently to avoid being fined by the EU.  The problem is that this was too little, too late and there are no Cyprus Grass Snakes left at this location.

The Cyprus Reptile Society will send George’s report to the EU Commission.   

George’s 2005 Report is here

Report on Xyliatos and Paralimni Lake, 2005

For the record: 

NOT ONE OF THE CYPRUS MEP’s or any DEPUTY has replied to letters sent to them by Snake George

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