Cyprus Grass Snake could be extinct in three years

THE CYPRUS grass snake will be extinct in three years unless drastic measures are taken to protect the breed, President of  Cyprus Reptiles Hans-Jorg Wiedl aka ‘Snake George warned yesterday. “I have been trying to get the backing of the government for the last three years to start up a conservation and breeding programme to [...]

Update on Xyliatos and the Cyprus Grass Snake

The Grass Snake was rediscovered in 1992 by George after this species was believed to be extinct for many decades on Cyprus. That was two years before the authorities started to breed the trout in the Xyliatos Dam. The trout is a natural enemy of the Grass Snake and not natural or native to Cyprus. [...]

Xyliatos, Fish ,Fishermen and the Cyprus Grass Snake

BENEATH the still waters of the picturesque reservoir of Xyliatos, a battle for survival has been raging between an aggressive, large-mouthed alien and an unassuming, unassertive native. On land, meanwhile, ensuring victory for the home-grown underdog has involved turning accepted environmental good practice on its head and redrawn the battles lines between illegal and legal [...]

Anglers being roped in to save cyprus grass snake

By Michele Kambas Published by The Cyprus Mail on February 9, 2010 ANGLERS are being brought in to help rescue a critically endangered Cyprus water snake that has lived on the island for thousands of years, but now faces a major threat from a snappy fish with a big appetite. As of next Monday, when [...]

Report on Xyliatos and Paralimni Lake, 2005

Report on the situation regarding the Cyprus Grass Snake (Natrix natrix cypriaca) at the Xyliatou dam and the Paralimni Lake in 2005 By Hans- Jorg Wiedl  The Xyliatou Dam was built in 1980-82 to provide farming irrigation. In 1992 I discovered a grass snake population at the plant in spite of repeated reports by the [...]