ARC - ΚΙΒΟΤΟΣ Education – Wildlife Heritage Επιμόρφωση – Φυσική κληρονομιά – Άγρια ζωή Patricia Radnor Kyriacou
About us Founded in 1994 Volunteer NGO Cyprus – A maritime nation
Our successes Dolphinarium closed 1999 Cyprus is one of the few captive dolphin- free countries ( Permanent government ban on captive dolphin imports)
Another success Two brown bears captive for 14 years in Limassol zoo rescued and flown to Hungary Free in a Hungarian refuge
Captive animals have no place in modern ecotourism Three leopards will travel to Africa in May Unlicensed zoo (EU Zoos Directive 22/1999) will be closed down Europe's first Ecozoo?
Cyprus – an established tourist destination Mass tourism – “Sun and Sea” Luxury tourism Ecotourism/Agrotourism
Ecotourism Traditional restored mountain villages (Kalopanayiotis) Cyprus villages (Sun and Sea)
Cyprus has many endemic species Endemic Glaucopsyche paphos (Paphos blue) feeding on endemic Anthemis tricolor
Cyprus – strategic position on bird migratory routes
Turtles (Caretta caretta) Seals (Monachus monachus) Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) -fruit bats Wildlife of Cyprus Cyprus is the only country EU member state to have fruit bats (Megachiroptera)
Fruit bat
Education Children are fascinated by bats
Stellaluna
Bats are fun!
Ecotourism and Bats Austin, Texas, USA
Other Interesting Southern Mediterranean Bat Species
NETWORKING EUROBATS Secretariat International conference in Cyprus May 2009 At an ecotourism village and conference centre on the sea Government authority (Department of Environment) on board
Maremotu Italian sea – kayaking organisation will come to Cyprus Travel round the coast Fruit bat sea-caves Recent sighting of Monachus monachus Children involved
A FRUIT BAT CAVE ROOST
Thank you !! Ευχαριστώ!!