Cyprus

Birdwatching

Cyprus is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna and is the crossing point between Europe and Africa for millions of migratory birds every year. It has more than 350 species, with around 46 resident species and 27 migratory species regularly reproducing on the island, and around 10 are endemic species. This makes the island a very popular destination for birdwatchers.

For more information: http://turismo-responsable.com/s64

Zoos

A pan-European project organized by the Born Free Foundation investigated nine zoos in Cyprus, assessing the effectiveness of and level of compliance with the European Council Directive relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos.

Serious issues were brought to light, such as the fact that eight of the zoos had no license and only 5% of the species observed were included in the EU’s captive breeding program. None of the zoos appeared to be conducting scientific research or reintroducing species. Many of the facilities lacked educational signage and information for visitors, which goes against the recommended good practice guidelines for zoos. The facilities were also investigated to measure the safety for animals, visitors, and employees; it turned out that only minimal measures had been put in place to prevent the animals from escaping, and the poorly designed structures put the public in serious danger or in direct contact with the animals. Hygiene levels in most cages was poor, and accumulated excrement was observed in a quarter of the cages.

For more information: http://turismo-responsable.com/s29