Over 1,000 primary school students were informed about the Vultures of Cyprus and the need to protect and preserve them.
Despite the limitations of the pandemic, the officers of Terra Cypria visited a total of 20 primary schools in the Paphos and Limassol districts, in the context of the Life with Vultures Project. Our team explained the situation of the Firefly- Vulture in Cyprus.
The students were informed about the importance of the specific vulture for the biodiversity and ecosystems of the island, identified pressures and threats, developed critical thinking and proposed actions that will allow this species to continue to reign the island’s etheric habitats. The response and sensitivity shown by the students were very encouraging, and we are particularly grateful to the teachers and school units.
In the meantime, and in view of the release of the first 15 vultures, that came from Spain to assist in increasing the extremely reduced Cypriot vulture population, 4 primary schools (Pachna, Palodia, Episkopi and Pissouri) were selected to symbolically adopt one vulture each. The students of these schools gave names to four Spanish vultures and will have the opportunity, in collaboration with the Life with Vultures project team, to follow their movements, and to be informed about their adaptation status on the island in the coming months.
This informative activity was carried out in the framework of the LIFE with Vultures project, which is co-funded by the EU and aims in addressing the major threats faced by the Firefly Vulture in Cyprus, such as the use of poisoned baits. In this effort, BirdLife Cyprus, the Game and Fauna Service, the Terra Cypria Foundation and the Vulture Conservation Foundation, are joining forces to save Cyprus’ most endangered predator.