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Anglers being roped in to save grass snake
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CyprusANGLERS are being brought in to help rescue a critically endangered Cyprus water snake that has lived on the island for thousands of years, but now faces a major threat from a snappy fish with a big appetite.
As of next Monday, when the amateur fishing season begins, anglers will be allowed to fish again in a picturesque reservoir which has been overrun by largemouth bass, an invasive fish species which gobbles up virtually everything that moves in the murky depths.
That includes frogs, a staple in the diet of the demure snake, Natrix natrix cypriaca, which breeds on the banks of the Xyliatos Reservoir, which has been closed for fishing for around six years.
"The primary source of food for the snake is being threatened by this alien species," an official from Cyprus's Department of Fisheries and Marine Research told Reuters.
Largemouth bass feed in shallow waters near the banks of reservoirs, the same breeding ground used by the Natrix natrix cypriaca.
Cyprus lists the snake as critically endangered. The snake is harmless, and will not poison or bite. If threatened, it will either emit a foul-smelling fluid which it attempts to smear on its predator -- or plays dead.
"They turn themselves upside down ... with the mouth open and the tongue hanging out," the Fisheries Department said on its website.
Remains of Natrix natrix cypriaca have been discovered at Aetokremmos, the oldest prehistoric site on Cyprus, dating back some 12,000 years.
Xyliatos, nestled in the foothills of Troodos, the central mountain range of the Mediterranean island, is one of the very few areas where it still lives.
The anglers had originally been banned from the area to stop them trampling over the banks and inadvertently destroying the snake's habitat.
Now the threat from the bass has become too great.
The reservoir has traditionally been stocked with trout, a fish notoriously difficult to catch and sensitive to the slightest detail, down to the colour of an angler's attire.
The bass, a larger and more aggressive fish, has made its appearance in recent years, put there, authorities suspect, by illicit anglers who find it easier to catch.
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ben dover comments:
If what im reading below from contributors to this thread is right this whole article above is nothing but a set of statements bundled together to make it look like a consevation project is in progress to save a snake that doesnt live in this location?????
Is this a move to throw off the EU because of the damage being done to the last remaining location of this snake(As documented by Snake George)in the eastern part of the Island for which Cyprus is being taken to court for non action over its protection as an endangered species? or am i just being plain old Cynical..
Dave roach from Paphos comments:
It has long been known by the professionals such Snake George and myself that there is no evidence at Xyliatos Reservoir that there are in fact any of these remarkable creatures left in the area, we have conducted extensive research and found no sign for the last 2 years.
What we did find however was fishermen and plenty of them!
The project that was set up to protect the grass snake did not work, not only because the scientist did not fully understand the grass snake but also because the so-called pools had been poisoned by mosquito oil this killing all insects that the frogs needed to survive, hence no food for the grass snake.
Are only thoughts now are to protect the few areas in Cyprus that does in fact still have a few Natrix Natrix Cyprica left and to create a breeding program to re-introduce these fascinating creatures back into the wild, it is too late for Xyliatos Reservoir but its not too late for the Cyprus Grass snake if we act now, if we don’t then the grass snake will be yet another legacy of the good times in Cyprus which sadly is in decline in every sector from building to tourism and from the rapid decline in our very own ecosystem that most people seem hell bent on destroying for what?
I urge the government to wake up and smell the roses and give Snake George the place and the funding to breed and protect the last few remaining Cyprus Grass snake, after all he is the ONLY one who is not only qualified to do so but the only one who can.
Dee from Paralimni comments:
Quote "When the live and let live mentality finally gets into our thick Cypriot heads, then we will be able to save what needs saving."
Giannis, I fear that when that day eventually comes, there will be no wildlife left to save, and no patches of virgin soil in which to plant anything green.
Giannis from Right here comments:
The Largemouth Bass is not an "invasive" species. It was introduced at Cypriot reservoirs a few decades ago by the Fisheries Department. It didnt just swim all the way from the freshwater lakes and rivers of North America, its natural habitat. Of course as you rightly mention it may have been illegally introduced in that particular dam though. So as a freshwater fisherman i would be more than happy to do my part in ridding the reservoir of this greedy, lethal (to their prey anyway) predator. Should i pour even more oil into the fire by mentioning that Largemouth Bass also eat snakes? Along with rats, squirrels and other fish including their own kind. Generally anything that fits into their jaws. They weren't called Large-mouth for nothing.
I would also like to add that if we are to bring back this species and every other rare and endangered species on this island a radical change has to be made in people's perception of wildlife and all its creepy crawly glory. Snakes and porcupines should not be run over with cars! Lizards and chameleons should not be tortured and killed to the enjoyment of children and scared Cypriot housewives. Plants and trees should not be cut up, ripped up, burned down or uprooted because you're bored or felt like it. When the live and let live mentality finally gets into our thick Cypriot heads, then we will be able to save what needs saving.