IT IS ONLY a matter of time before Cyprus’ native grass snake disappears – if it is not already extinct, it emerged this week.
This is the stark assessment of one local snake and reptile expert this week, who for years has campaigned to raise public and government awareness of this unique species’ plight.
In an open letter to environmental Commissioner Charalambous Theopemptou, Hans George-Wiedl, aka. “Snake George” said he found no signs of the snake in their last known habitat around Paralimni Lake, when he returned for the first time in three years.
He said: “I could see no sign of them, or any tracks left by them. The whole environment around the lake has changed for the worst. I would not be surprised if the grass snake at Paralimni has disappeared altogether.”
He added: “If there are a small number of grass snakes there, it is only a question of time until they disappear forever.”
Grass snakes are timid creatures and have been driven away from their natural breeding and hunting grounds by illegal property developments.
More worryingly, Snake George reported widespread illegal hunting in the area. During his visit he was accompanied by two friends from Switzerland, when they met three hunters. One friend named Peter tried to take their pictures.
“Peter wanted to take some photos of them but one of the hunters said to him ‘You have a camera, I have a gun’ and then pointed the gun at Peter who felt threatened. He decided not to take a photo but as he walked away the hunter fired the gun over his head,” Snake George said, adding that the hunters continued firing around the group until they left.
The group did manage to take several photographs of birds that had been shot, and many empty shotgun cartridges.
Snake George also highlighted the environmental degradation that has taken place in recent months. He noted the marked drop in the water level and abundance of dead fish strewn along the banks.
He said: “There is lots of rubbish there, and even where they have cleaned up, new rubbish has appeared. When I was looking around the small lake there were many, many dead fish in and out of the water. There were millions of mosquito fish trying to get oxygen, and I don’t know how many of these die every day.”
The European Commission has required that the government ban property development in the area and designate Paralimni as a site of community importance (SCI). While the government has made promises to do this, developments continued unabated.
The Commission said it considered that “the Cypriot Authorities had not taken the necessary measures to protect the Cyprus Grass Snake, contrary to the requirements of directives on the conservation and habitats of flora and fauna.