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ARC - ΚΙΒΟΤΟΣ. Education – Wildlife Heritage Επιμόρφωση – Φυσική κληρονομιά – Άγρια ζωή. Patricia Radnor Kyriacou. www.animalscyprus.org –arc.kivotos@cytanet.com.cy. About us. Founded in 1994 Volunteer NGO. Cyprus – A maritime nation. Our successes. Dolphinarium closed 1999
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ARC - ΚΙΒΟΤΟΣ Education – Wildlife Heritage Επιμόρφωση – Φυσική κληρονομιά – Άγρια ζωή Patricia Radnor Kyriacou www.animalscyprus.org–arc.kivotos@cytanet.com.cy
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
Wildlife of Cyprus • Turtles (Caretta caretta) • Seals (Monachus monachus) • Bats (Rousettusaegyptiacus) -fruit bats Cyprus is the only country EU member state to have fruit bats (Megachiroptera)
Education • Children are fascinated by bats
Ecotourism and Bats • Austin, Texas, USA
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