The most eye -catching guests of the wetlands are decreasing the number of flamingos – Cyprus Newspaper

Flamingolar, which attracts attention with its curved beaks, long, elegant legs and pink tones, visits wetlands at the Cyprus stop on the migration roads this year.

The outdoor pools of the Haspolate Treatment Plant in Northern Cyprus, Famagusta Fresh Water Lake, Yenişehir (Gülseren) wetlands, Glapsides and Silver Beach, which can be seen at points such as “winter visitors ,, continue to fascinate those who see it.

Flamingos' frequented places in Southern Cyprus are known as Salt Lake and August wetland in Larnaka.

However, experts pointed out that there is a significant decrease in the number of flamingo throughout the island, calling for urgent measures to protect wetlands.

In order to protect these unique guests of Cyprus, it is emphasized to adopt a respectful approach to nature and to protect wetlands with precision and to control human activities.

– « Mid -winter water bird census data is worrying… action should be taken »

Northern Cyprus Birds and Nature Protection Association (Kuşkor), in a statement on the findings of the Mid-Winter Count of Water Birds in the Mid-Winter Count of Winter between 17-20 January, said an increase in the number of water birds below the average in the last two years, but the decline in the numbers of flamingo continued.

Doubt, Flamingo numbers have been at very low levels for three consecutive years, and a significant decrease in the Flamingo numbers that have been wintering in Cyprus for 10 years has experienced a significant decline.

Dimla Beton, the President of Doubt, said that the number of flamingo, which was recorded as 135 in 2023, fell to 111 in the census in 2024. Pointing to human activities as one of the main reasons for this decrease, concrete pointed out that the ongoing works in Haspolat Facilities narrowed the areas where birds can shelter. However, concrete, however, stressed that climate change has put a great pressure on wetlands.

Simultaneously with Kuşkor, Birdlife Cyprus, who made a count in Southern Cyprus, said in a joint statement with the Hunting and Fauna Office and shared the concern of this decrease by recording that the number of flamingo wintering in August went down to low levels. The statement stated that only 30 flamingon was recorded in January 2025 for the first time since 1992; It was emphasized that this figure was even worse than the severe drought period in 2008.

In the statements of both associations, it was underlined that urgent action should be taken to protect the wetlands of Cyprus.

– Korukoğlu: « Our man creates a pause space to spend the winter or on the south »

Answering the questions of the Turkish Agency Cyprus (TAK) correspondent, Biologist, Environmental Education and Management Specialist Dr. Asuman Korukoğlu stated that they stayed in Cyprus during the transition seasons and winter months while flamingos go back and fooling between the reproductive and wintering areas.

Korukoğlu stated that the transition periods could last until November and the wintering times could last until November.

Korukoğlu said, “A stagnation area on the road to spend the winter or go to the south wintering areas. In the spring, it creates a pause area they use on the way to breeding areas from the wintering areas to the north. ” he said.

Korukoğlu said that there are also attempts to nest Flamingos in Ağrotur wetland in the past years and said that thousands of individuals can be counted here and Larnaka Salt Lake.

In addition to the recently preferred areas of Flamingos in Northern Cyprus, Korukoğlu said that there are records in the puppet wetland in the past years and that there are records in Kanlıdere and Tuzluca Creek. he said.

– « The decrease may be due to many factors, all factors on the route should be evaluated »

Korukoğlu said that the Flamingo genre that came to Cyprus is the most common species in the world, “Phoenicopterus Roseus ,, shared the following information about the genre:

“After leaving the egg, gray has white and blackish brown and black feathers when you are young. As it matures, it has an increasingly darkened pink color due to the red color substance of the aquatic organisms it eats, and the flame color and ends of the wings are black. This type of North Africa, Mediterranean countries, South East and South West Asia can be seen. There are reproductive areas in France, Italy, Spain, Algeria and Türkiye. Shallow salty is a species that loves seaside coasts. They are eradicated, shrimp, Yuşakçalar and other aquatic invertebrates. ”

Korukoğlu, Düşman and Birdlife Cyprus'un mid -winter count after the decline in the number of flamingos, evaluating the explanations, this decrease may be due to too much factor, he noted; In order to determine the cause of this decline, he emphasized that all of the factors in the routes of life should be evaluated.

– « Human -based environment deterioration is a major factor »

Korukoğlu said, “We can say for its own country for its own country, one of the main reasons for environmental deterioration is human activities. We also think that climate change on a global scale has a significant impact. ” He said.

Stating that wetlands are under protection, but the existing measures are insufficient, Korukoğlu said that vehicles, noise, pollution, stray dogs and dogs traveling dogs pose a serious threat to these areas.

Korukoğlu said:

“In our country, wetlands and surroundings of uncontrolled human activities, noise, pollution with wastes and elements such as stray dogs threaten natural life. In addition, land type and other vehicles move on the border and inside of the wetlands, people coming to the water edge, throwing stones, shouting to attract the attention of birds or throwing bread daily and simple, but continuously repeated behaviors, as well as all natural life, as well as all natural life affects the flamingos. Unfortunately, it is possible to see at least one of these effects in any wetland. ”

Korukoğlu pointed out the importance of the protection of wetlands in Cyprus and emphasized that these regions offer a living space for many living things and provide food and shelter for migratory birds like Flamingos.

-« Laws and regulations should be applied seriously »

Emphasizing that the laws and regulations should be applied seriously in order for these areas to remain as a “safe area ,, Korukoğlu said:

En In order to protect wetlands, environmental education, awareness, warnings and strict inspections should be implemented. 'Are protection measures really implemented?' The answer to the question should be given with effective supervision and deterrent sanctions. Census results of scientists and bird observers should be taken into consideration and the necessary measures should be implemented with determination. ”

Cypriot wetland community and Gazimağusa Municipality in cooperation with the Union in February in the wetlands and observations of the wetlands in the wetlands, indicating that Korukoglu, the 1st Famagusta Wetlands Workshop was also carried out. Korukoğlu, the workshop prepared with the participation of experts will be shared with the public and competent authorities, he said.