Press Releases

The latest statement issued last week by Mr Clive Reed on behalf of Europa Point Marine Village (EPMV) Ltd. is an outstanding attempt at disinformation and evasion which does not address any of the major points made by GONHS in its campaign, in particular in its statement last week.

It seems clear that neither Mr Reed nor indeed the recently created EPMV have any experience in any form of animal care or management and this lack of expertise comes across clearly in the statements made by the Company.

The claim that dolphins have extended lives in captivity is false. The claim that dolphins have a significant beneficial effect in therapy is disputed and there is absolutely no evidence that they do. Indeed, such interactions could in fact be dangerous. The suggestion that EPMV will be able to fill 3000 seats every time the dolphins perform tricks, and keep the 3000 people for long enough to make the venture viable seems economically naïve. The claim of employing over 300 people is likewise unsupported and aimed at diverting attention from other facts. And yet they ask us, and the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society, to present evidence in our favour. Our evidence is in published journals (see the list of references of peer-reviewed papers given at the foot of this statement, and 'The Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity',

The Chronicle quotes Mr Reed as saying that the dolphins to be brought to Gibraltar “will be of captive stock, therefore they will not be captured from the wild”. He does not say that they have been born in captivity, as “captive stock” includes dolphins captured in the past. Nor does he guarantee that the dolphins that would come to Gibraltar would not be replaced by others taken from the wild, hence fuelling demand for dolphin-capture. There are also important ethical considerations, regardless of the provenance of the animals, that Mr Reed has failed to address with his superficial arguments. The reader must consider whether the keeping of eighteen dolphins and seven sea lions, animals that in the wild range over hundreds of kilometres, within Rosia Bay strikes her or him as ethical.

GONHS has stated clearly that it does not object to other aspects of EPMV’s proposals, and so a more Gibraltar and wildlife-friendly facility that will offer employment could be proposed. Why is EPMV so intent on the dolphinarium? Why do they want to bring a large number of captive dolphins and sea lions, which some alarmingly refer to as “animal assets”, to Gibraltar, and do so whether or not the project will be economically viable?

GONHS notes that Mr Reed's statement appears to imply that EPMV Ltd. is involved in dolphinarium facilities in Florida. What facilities are these? To our knowledge EPMV do not own such facilities. Ocean Embassy (OE), the company providing EPMV with “professional services”, according to OE itself, “does not own or maintain any operating marine life parks”. Indeed, they threatened GONHS with legal action for suggesting this. GONHS once again asks the developers to come clean and state clearly who is behind the project, so that their credentials can be scrutinized openly.

Some of the other claims by EPMV are unbelievable and verge on being insulting to the intelligence of Gibraltar’s decision makers.

By stating that in captivity dolphins are protected from diseases and predation, Mr Reed is dismissing decades of conservation work by thousands of individuals and by governments and organisations around the world. Following his logic, all of these have been wasting their time protecting habitats, creating national parks, conducting species conservation programmes and promoting nature conservation. If we follow Mr Reed's warped logic, what should have been done is to round up all the animals and keep them safe from the harmful effects of living in nature by placing them in cages and pens! What an absolute lack of understanding of the natural world Mr Reed and EPMV Ltd. appear to have!

The most incredible statement is that “Captivity itself is not cruel – negligent care is”! Extending that logic, one must assume that we humans should have no objection to spending our lives encarcerated in our splendid new prison. There, we would be protected from harm, with no risk of car accidents or the other hazards of daily life in the wild, we would be fed at regular intervals, have easy access to medical care, and would have the added benefit of having occasional interaction with visitors who will be humbled by the experience. Please Mr Reed! Shame on you for believing that you'd convince the public with such arguments!

DeMaster, D. P. and Drevenak, J.K. 1988. Survivorship patterns in three species of captive cetaceans. Marine Mammal Science. Vol. 4, no 4, pp297-311

Duffield, D.A. and Wells, R.S. 1991. Bottlenose dolphins: comparison of census data from dolphins in captivity with a wild population. Soundings: 11-15. Spring.

Small, R.J. and De Master, D.P. 1995. Survival of five species of captive marine mammals. Marine Mammal Science 11(2): 209-226.

Woodley, T. H., Hannah, J.L. and Lavigne, D.M. 1994. A comparison of survival rates for captive and free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), killer whales (Orcinus orca) and beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). International Marine Mammal Association Inc. Draft technical report no 93-01.

Wells, R.S. and Scott, M.D. 1990. Estimating bottlenose dolphin population parameters from individual identification and capture-release techniques. Report of the International Whaling Commission, Special Issue 12.

Olesiuk, P.F., Bigg, M.A. and Ellis, G.M. 1990. Life history and population dynamics of resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the coastal waters of British Columbia and Washington State. Report of the International Whaling Commission. Special Issue 12. pp 209-244.

Further to our press release published 21/7/10 where we said that our request for participation in the technical talks being held under the Tripartite Forum process on environmental issues had not been heard or acknowledged, we can now confirm that although we have had no written formal reply we have been verbally informed that the Gibraltar Government would welcome our participation and input on environmental technical encounters and will propose that an appropriate structure is set up to make this possible.

The ESG and GONHS welcome this news and look forward to the setting up of such a structure within which the transborder environmental groups would be able to participate and address the many serious and urgent environmental matters affecting our respective communities.

The ESG and GONHS, as part of the cross border coalition of environmental NGO's, wish to advise that the joint request made by groups "for participation in the technical talks held under the Tripartite Process on environmental issues" has neither been heard or acknowledged. In light of the talks being held today we regret this exclusion and will be taking the issue up with our colleagues in Spain to consider our position.

The NGOs are also concerned that other developments should not take the focus away from the needs of the environment and consequently public health, which are longer term problems which affect us all, regardless of
the frontier situation.

A year ago today the Forum made several declarations on how it proposed to address environmental risks and potential hazards in the bay claiming it would be providing substantial feedback within the year. The year is up today and we call upon the Forum to provide concrete answers.

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society has released a statement made by the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), the leading international charity dedicated solely to the worldwide conservation and welfare of all cetaceans.

In its statement, WDCS fully supports the stand GONHS has made on the proposals for a dolphinarium in Gibraltar. It stresses also the fact that using captive bred dolphins, even if these were available, is not an acceptable option.

GONHS maintains that many of the issues that relate to wild dolphins apply also to captive bred ones. Commercial use is not an accepted criterion for breeding dolphins in captivity. Moreover, even if enough captive bred ones were available to supply Gibraltar, this would leave gaps in other dolphinaria that would ultimately be filled from the wild. By creating an increased demand for captive dolphins, the wild-caught dolphin “market” would be fueled, and so Gibraltar would be directly responsible for encouraging this despicable activity.

WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, is very concerned about the proposal to establish a dolphinarium at Rosia Bay in Gibraltar. Dolphins are highly intelligent, free-ranging carnivores who suffer greatly from the effects of confinement and as a result suffer from stress, breeding problems and premature death as well as behavioural problems that can result in aggression between themselves and towards humans. This is important given the proposal to include a swimming with dolphins programme at Rosia Bay. While dolphinariums may claim they are important for education, we believe that seeing whales and dolphins in captivity can be miseducational, with educational messages taking second place to entertainment in circus-style performances and up-close encounters, where visitors' desire for interaction appears to override any educational benefit.

We are concerned that wild-caught dolphins will be imported to Gibraltar for the Rosia Bay development. Currently, captures of wild dolphins take place in Japanese, Solomon Islands, Cuban and Russian Federation waters. These captures are of serious concern to the scientific community and none of these countries are in a position to make non-detriment findings for the export of captured animals, as required by CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. In Japan, dolphins are captured in drive hunts, a particularly cruel form of hunting in which pods of dolphins are rounded up out at sea and driven towards the shore where some are selected for aquariums and the rest slaughtered for meat. These hunts have been condemned by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which has called on its members not to source from them. Furthermore, imports of dolphins into the European Union are prohibited under EU CITES legislation for primarily commercial purposes. A dolphinarium, displaying animals to the public and charging an admission fee, would constitute a primarily commercial purpose.

Captive-born dolphins are still wild animals. In the wild these animals can travel 40 to 100 kilometres a day, they have intricate social structures and are highly intelligent. Some species have been found to have developed 'culture', in the passing down through the generations of specialised behaviour and adaptations to their environment. However, in captivity they are forced into relative idleness in an artificial environment where their behaviour is controlled and subdued by humans.

They are made to interact with species and individuals they would normally avoid in the wild which can induce ulcers and other illnesses and cause stress, discomfort, boredom, a weakened immune system and premature death. It can also provoke aggression between them, often leading to injuries and death. Such displays of aggression may also occur between dolphins and human visitors or trainers. The captive environment cannot accommodate the mental, physical and social needs of these animals and also fails to demonstrate their natural behaviour, complex lives, and the natural environment they inhabit. Despite the so called comforts of captivity and the food and veterinary care provided, many captives, including those born in captivity, die long before their wild counterparts. Furthermore, while the captive dolphin population remains unsustainable around the world, an import of dolphins from another dolphinarium may well result in further captures to restock the exporting dolphinarium.

Rosia Bay does not appear to be a suitable environment for the keeping of dolphins in captivity. The Straits of Gibraltar are renowned for their strong winds and currents and is the second busiest shipping lane in the world. The area is heavily industrialized and has been subject to morbillivirus epidemics among local wild dolphin populations in recent years.

Other countries, including Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica and Croatia have recently taken steps to safeguard the future of cetaceans threatened by live captures and confinement in captivity by implementing prohibitions on capture, trade and captivity of these animals. We believe these are the right steps to take to conserve and protect the world's whales and dolphins and that the Gibraltar authorities will be greatly praised throughout the conservation and scientific community for implementing such protective measures. Gibraltar is a popular destination for wild whale and dolphin watching. There is no need for Gibraltar to establish a dolphinarium and risk the conservation and welfare problems it would cause.

As the Facebook Campaign run by the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) against proposals for a dolphinarium in Gibraltar surpasses an astonishing 4000 members, and the Government in Parliament recently made clear its opposition to wild caught dolphins being used in any such project in Gibraltar, the Society has been amused by the weak attempt made in the Gibraltar Chronicle last week by EPMV, the company backing the scheme to justify their unjustifiable project. The arguments used are disrespectful of all the many people in Gibraltar and abroad who seriously and honestly, and for good reason, oppose their plans.

The statement mentions one member of GONHS Council and accuses him and GONHS itself of irresponsibility. This is totally rejected. GONHS members, when speaking on behalf of the organisation and following GONHS policy, have the full support of GONHS, and neither GONHS nor any of its members have acted irresponsibly. On the contrary, GONHS has a duty to point out the many reasons why a dolphinarium should not be established in Gibraltar.

The suggestion that GONHS is seeking to “spin fear” “particularly to children” is ludicrous. The Company clearly is not aware of GONHS’s history and track record of educational work. None of the activities or actions of GONHS in this campaign have been directed at children. EPMV have irresponsibly made an accusation which they have not substantiated. If any of the activities they and their associates are linked with are such that they may cause an impression of fear or repulsiveness in members of the public, children or otherwise, then it is them and not GONHS that deserve to be condemned for it.

The Company is quoted as stating that GONHS “should act responsibly”, specifically in advising Government, implying that it is not doing so. This is another ludicrous claim. GONHS has been making discreet, responsible contact with Government on the matter for some time now, and only made its campaign public when it appeared that despite this the developers were intent on proceeding. Advisers, whether official or unofficial, have a duty to advise clearly and professionally, without fear or favour, and to state what they legitimately feel, whether or not it is what the advisee, or anybody else, may want to hear. GONHS invariably does this and has been providing sound, well-researched advice to successive Governments for decades. Moreover, GONHS is not just an advisor, but an independent NGO that is regularly consulted by Governments and other entities.

According to the Chronicle report, the promoters claim that the GONHS-led campaign aims “to protect local private commercial interests “ and “is not in the interest of Gibraltar”. GONHS does not know what these private commercial interests may be. GONHS certainly has none. Its only interests are the protection of the natural environment. Europa Point Marine Village Limited cannot make such allegations without evidence. Interestingly, the Company’s statement can be taken to imply that they feel there may be some negative effect on whatever “private and commercial interests” they are referring to. The company should therefore state clearly who they believe is going to be adversely affected if the project goes ahead. Moreover, what is not in the interests of Gibraltar is the setting up of an archaic facility that would bring widespread condemnation from around the world and bring Gibraltar into disrepute.

In trying to justify the use of Rosia Bay for their scheme, EPMV in fact ironically highlights several of the problems with this site. There is no way anyone can guarantee that, if significant oil pollution occurs in certain weather conditions, Rosia Bay will not be affected even if separated from the sea by suspended netting and booms. In any case such booms will not protect the area from pollutants dissolved within the sea water. Nor will they protect the rich marine life of the surrounding area from possible contamination from within the proposed dolphin and sea lion pen.

In its statement, the Company tries the usual distraction of seemingly promising an unbelievable number of jobs. This would of course first depend on the operation being financially viable. Despite their belief that it would attract many visitors, the developers present no market research to establish this. They seem to be unfamiliar with the way that tourism operates in Gibraltar and seem also to under-estimate the negative effect on this tourism that the adverse publicity that Gibraltar would get from having a dolphinarium would bring.

In any case, there are many activities that would generate employment that would not be tolerated in Gibraltar because they would be illegal, immoral or unethical. For example, a bullring would generate employment, but surely would be rejected outright by the Community and the Government!

More directly, there are many other possible projects for the area, including some promulgated by the Company, that would be acceptable and generate jobs without there having to be a dolphinarium.

The company’s claim to vast experience in other parts of the world is no reassurance. Europa Point Marine Village, itself has to our knowledge not got any experience in managing dolphinaria. If, despite recent claims by another entity that it was not involved, EPMV now has experts from elsewhere as part of its team, it should publicly state who they are so that their track record can be openly scrutinized. In any case these experts may well treat “their” dolphins very well but that does not mean that it justifies new operations that will place an increasing demand for captive dolphins. Fighting bulls are well cared for before they enter the arena. The reference to their credentials in dealing with strandings is irrelevant as stranded dolphins are extremely rare in Gibraltar and there already exist protocols for dealing with these.

Most significantly, the Company’s statement does not answer any of our main points including those regarding the justification for captivity of these animals, issues related to longevity, source of dolphins, etc.

GONHS sees the statement, as reported, as a feeble attempt to try and justify what has no justification in a 21st Century Gibraltar which should be heading in a very different direction to the one that the embarrassment of setting up a dolphinarium would tell the world it is heading.

The Society will in future not tolerate remarks made by the Company which it considers could harm GONHS' hard-won international reputation for integrity and excellence.

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) recently stated that its position on the angling situation in Gibraltar coincides with much of what the Gibraltar Federation of Sea Anglers (GFSA) has recently stated in the media. GONHS is however disappointed with some aspects of GFSA’s position and feels that the Government’s response falls short of what is required.

GONHS supports most of the proposals made by GFSA, but clearly not the statement that they are the only organisation that should be consulted by Government in dealing with marine protection.

While they are a key stakeholder, and must of course be fully consulted, they cannot be the only organisation involved. That would almost be equivalent to giving a hunting organisation the veto on developing the rules of a terrestrial nature reserve.

The Government’s prime obligation in this respect, are its legal ones. These are obligations that relate to the protection of nature, most importantly the proper implementation of the requirements for a Site if Community Interest (SCI) and future Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the Habitats Directive. Therefore the Ministry for the Environment, rather than the Sports and Leisure Authority, should be the prime Government agency involved in this process. The fact that our jurisdiction is disputed by Spain makes it even more important to ensure that these obligations are kept to the highest standards by the Gibraltar Government in respect of nature conservation as a failure in this would surely help Spain’s case.

GONHS is of course not opposed to sensitive recreational fishing, and in this sense its interests, which are to pursue research and conservation, coincide with those of anglers, as both desire a healthy marine life.

It is GONHS that has done more than any other organisation in Gibraltar to protect Gibraltar’s wildlife, including marine life. This included the drafting of the 1991 Nature Protection Act, which, in relation to marine matters, put into statute many of the points that GFSA are now pursuing. These include the total banning of commercial fishing and the use of all types of nets, as well as other methods of catching marine species, within all of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, and the setting up of a marine nature conservation area (the term the Act uses for a marine reserve).

This law was drafted as GONHS wanted to pre-empt the destruction of its marine life, and, while some still remained, wanted to protect many shoreline and seabed habitats from abuse. Subsequently, meetings were held with the fishing organisations, and a joint approach pursued to ensure the correct regulations were put in place for managing the Marine Conservation Area.

The Marine Conservation Area was provided for in the 1995 Marine Regulations which were to extend to all of Gibraltar’s territorial waters, and which provided extensive measures for the proper management of marine activities, including the issuing of permits, etc. These are still part of the laws of Gibraltar. However, soon after they were published in the Gibraltar Gazette, representatives of local fishing organisations approached the Government of the time and strongly opposed the measures. The Government, possibly because there was an election looming, froze the legislation and never proceeded to declare the reserve to which the regulations would apply. Despite repeated approaches from GONHS ever since that time, they have never been brought into effect by successive administrations.

As with the Nature Protection Act, they were pioneering regulations well ahead of their time, and a breakthrough for nature conservation. Fifteen years have passed and the regulations would clearly require some modification and tightening up. However, GONHS does not agree with the Federation, nor with Government, that these do not provide a firm framework for action. In the context of the management plan required for the SCI they form the ideal basis for updated marine management regulations

.
There are many organisations, other than the fishing clubs and ourselves, who are legitimate stakeholders. These include diving and boating associations as well as dolphin boat operators and other users of the sea. GONHS therefore welcomes the Government’s intention to consult widely, and expects to be involved in such consultation. However, sight must not be lost of the overriding fact that, besides the interests of local users, there are international legal obligations that Gibraltar must fulfil.

GONHS remains willing to play its part in this process but considers it important that recent statements be placed in their historical perspective.

GONHS totally rejects the comments made by Mark Simmons of Ocean Embassy as quoted in the Gibraltar Chronicle which seem to attempt to place doubt on GONHS’ credentials and to question the rationale and objectivity of our position. The statements made by GONHS are not “false and intentionally misleading”. The discussion held by GONHS with representatives of Ocean Embassy and Europa Point Marine Village Ltd (EPMVL) lasted well over an hour and covered a wide range of relevant matters, scientific and commercial. GONHS based its points and arguments on decades of experience in real conservation, both in Gibraltar and abroad. The GONHS team was made up of scientists and experienced conservationists with a collective knowledge of conservation issues unrivalled in our area. As a Gibraltarian organisation we do not need to be told what Gibraltar needs in terms of nature conservation.

In its letter to us, Ocean Embassy threatens legal action, accusing us of “numerous misrepresentations and omissions” and again of being “false and intentionally misleading”. They then make statements that seem to want to distance them from the project developers. However, the literature which was presented to us, clearly states that Ocean Embassy is “merged” with EPMVL and includes many other clear indications as to its close involvement. However, as stated in our previous press release, our objections do not depend on who the developer is. Our objections, which were clearly stated at the meeting, include the philosophical – of course they do – but are also practical.

There are many other points against the dolphinarium. No matter how enjoyable or therapeutic swimming with a captive dolphin might be, one must not forget that the dolphin may have been wild. Dolphinaria are regarded internationally as outdated and are simply not acceptable in a modern community. A dolphinarium would be an embarrassment to Gibraltar as it would draw tremendous bad publicity and criticism to the Rock.

Moreover, it may probably not even be commercially viable given the type of tourism that comes to Gibraltar and would certainly compete with tourism operators for tourists’ time and money. In addition the proposal would in effect privatise the Rosia Bay area, and, depending on what the whole of the proposals of Europa Point Marine Village Ltd contain, possibly other areas too.

The arguments put to GONHS at the meeting defended outdated concepts, and opinions, which may serve to justify the existence of an existing facility of that type, but not to create a new one. Indeed their opinion included an outright attack on one of the major and most highly respected cetacean conservation societies in the world, the UK-based “Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society”, which are totally opposed to dolphinaria. Ocean Embassy has no knowledge of our conservation needs and seems to be trying to pass off the proposed dolphinarium as a measure of "nature conservation" when it is clearly not that. They seem to be trying to divert attention from the real issues. In their statements to the Chronicle, neither Mark Simmons of Ocean Embassy nor Robin Levy of EPMVL mentioned that the project has not discarded the possibility of, although not for the present, capturing local wild dolphins.

In a separate comment, GONHS has clarified its policy on its ‘Stop the Gibraltar Dolphinarium’ Facebook Campaign (which now has over 2800 members). GONHS will NOT delete comments against its campaign which are relevant, and will of course allow fair balanced discussion of the pros and cons of a dolphinarium. What it has removed is a number of uninformed, provocative, potentially libelous comments, or comments which are malicious criticisms not related to the dolphinarium issue. Any such criticisms will be answered and explained separately if GONHS is approached directly, or if questioned in its regular Facebook page.

Ocean Embassy, a company based in Florida, and which is associated with proposals to set up a Dolphinarium in Gibraltar, has written to the Gibraltarian NGO stating that they are not the developers of the proposed Dolphinarium at Rosia Bay and that Ocean Embassy do not own dolphinaria.

It accuses GONHS of being "false and intentionally misleading”. While GONHS is willing to accept at face value the statement that Ocean Embassy neither are the developers of the site nor own dolphinaria, GONHS rejects the allegations made by the company as to GONHS's intentions.

In documents provided to GONHS by Europa Point Marine Village Limited (the company that is putting forward the proposal), these clearly state that they [EPMVL] and Ocean Embassy have “merged…in connection with its marine orientated activities both in Gibraltar and the US.” This and a number of other statements and facts gave GONHS the clear impression of Ocean Embassy’s activities and involvement. GONHS has decided to remove the words “led by Ocean Embassy” from the press release it posted on its website and has written to Ocean Embassy explaining its position on these matters.

In any event nothing that Ocean Embassy has stated in its letter to GONHS affects the substantive objections that GONHS maintains against the Dolphinarium. These remain and in GONHS’s view are unanswerable. As said in previous statements there are a number of good reasons why the Dolphinarium project should be stopped and no support given to it by Government.

GONHS will continue with its campaign, which it has a right to lead and maintain, and will continue to welcome support to its Facebook Group “Stop the Gibraltar Dolphinarium”, as well to other activities that will be planned as long as the proposals remain on the table.

The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). It is a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. In doing this, it invited the world to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity

In order to mark the year, and specifically, World Day of Biodiversity, which is on 22nd May, the Society is organizing a number of events.

Next week, from Monday 17th to Friday 21st, there will be an exhibition of photographs which depict both Gibraltar’s rich biodiversity and the problems it faces.

On Thursday 20th May, at the John Mackintosh Hall’s Charles Hunt Room, at 6.30pm, there will be a presentation on Gibraltar’s biodiversity, concentrating on recent work by GONHS in cataloguing Gibraltar’s species – the Gibraltar Biodiversity Project, followed by a guided viewing of the exhibition. There will also be a relaunch of the Society’s Biodiversity Action Plan and of the book “Nature’s Mountain” itself a photographic representation of Gibraltar’s biodiversity.

On World Day of Biodiversity, Saturday 22nd May, there will be an open day at the Alameda Gardens, starting with bird ringing from 8am, a bird of prey display from 10am, birdwatching throughout the morning and a guided tour of the Botanic Gardens starting at 11am.

The Alameda Wildlife Park will also be holding an open day from 10am to 5pm to celebrate the world’s biodiversity.

GONHS holds seminar in Morocco

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) organised a day-long seminar on 8 May in the Moroccan town of M’diq, 47 kilometres directly south of Gibraltar, on the Mediterranean coast of the Tangier Peninsula.

The seminar was on the theme of the protection of the biodiversity of the Smir wetlands. It was hosted by GONHS with the participation also of the Scientific Insitute of the University of Rabat-Agdal, and non-governmental organisation (NGOs) from M’diq. Also present were representatives of schools, local government officials, and local and regional press and TV.

The aim of the seminar was to present the results of four years of research in the wetlands by a team from GONHS and Rabat as part of GIBMANATUR, the Gibraltar-Morocco Interreg project funded by the European Union and the Government of Gibraltar. It was organised in order to bring to local associations and to the general public the value of the habitats and wildlife of the area, which is unique in the region of the Strait of Gibraltar, and is in danger of disappearing through development.

The meeting which, proceeded in Arabic and French, was addressed in the opening session by Professor Mohamed Mouna from Rabat Scientific Institute, Dr John Cortes from GONHS, Imad M’Birek from the Association Laguna Smir, and Rachid Dendabi from the Association d’Accion Cultural de M’diq. Following this there were technical presentations from experts on the flora and fauna of the area, with Soumaya Hammada presenting the botanical talk, Mohamed Mouna talking on insects, Abdeljebbar Qninba and Mohamed Amezian on birds, Mohamed Mediani on reptiles and amphimbians and Mohammed Aziz El Agbani on general conservation principles.

These talks were followed by an enthusiastic discussion of which one of the conclusions was the creation of a committee to fight for the protection of the wetlands and to try and reverse the latest development plans for the area.

The Smir wetlands, the last significant wetlands in the area of the Strait, hold a wide variety of species, including birds rare elsewhere in Morocco and possibly a previously unknown form of bird which the GIBMANATUR project confirmed for the first time was nesting in the marshes, in habitat now under serious threat.

The campaigners, while facing a hard struggle, take heart from recent declarations by the King of Morocco in favour of the protection of the Kingdom’s natural assets, including the major wildlife sites.

Although the Interreg Project itself expired about a year ago, and no more Gibraltar-Morocco funds have been identified by the EU, GONHS continues committed to work in Morocco and to develop further the many excellent contacts that have been made. The reception given by the representatives of the people of M’diq to the Gibraltar delegation, made up of John Cortes and Leslie Linares, showed how strong the links have become.

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society is overwhelmed by the support generated by its Facebook campaign against proposals to create a dolphinarium in Gibraltar. With over 1700 members by Sunday evening – just four days after its launch, most of them Gibraltar residents – GONHS feels it is a clear message to the promoters that they are simply not wanted here.

Since hearing about the proposals, GONHS has been working quietly behind the scenes, gathering information and keeping Government – which as yet has not made public a position on what is a private proposal – informed of its concerns.

The scheme includes an aquarium and museum (to which GONHS does not object), and a pen, in Rosia Bay, which would hold 18 bottle-nosed dolphins and 9 sea lions.

A meeting was held on Friday 30 April between GONHS and the promoters of the project, which included local backers Europa Point Marine Village Limited and, through a video link to Florida, representatives of American company, Ocean Embassy.

At the meeting, which lasted over one hour, GONHS expounded its concerns about the proposals, and pointed out the dubious commercial viability, in any case, of the project. GONHS stressed the long history of appreciation of wild dolphins in Gibraltar waters. The promoters argued that their work would aid conservation, a claim rejected by GONHS, and that they would provide a stranded dolphin rehabilitation facility. The GONHS representatives were quick to point out that there is no need for this, as strandings in Gibraltar are less than one a decade and that this was a “red herring” being thrown at the dolphins, on the assumption that experts in Gibraltar were gullible enough to be convinced by what were shallow arguments.

The Ocean Embassy representatives admitted that the dolphins would be “obtained from the Asian market”, a reference clearly to the well known capturing of dolphins in that region, especially off Japan, covered in the award winning documentary The Cove (which they dismissed simply as “propaganda”). They also confirmed that the dolphins intended for Gibraltar were wild.

There was also a suggestion in the discussion that, although “not for the moment”, there was a possibility that their operation would in the future capture dolphins from Gibraltar waters. GONHS stressed the fact that a dolphinarium would serve no conservation or research purpose in a local context, regardless of the origin of the dolphins.

GONHS totally rejects these proposals as unnecessary and unjustified as well as potentially illegal, given that cetaceans are protected by Gibraltar and EU laws.

Following the meeting, GONHS asked the local representatives to withdraw the project, which they refused to do.

Dolphinaria are a thing of the past. While some of the old dolphinaria, which were created when there was much less knowledge and awareness, do some good work, there is simply no justification for creating new ones and enslaving more wild dolphins. The UK, for example, is dolphinarium-free as is much of Europe, and having such an anachronism in Gibraltar would be an embarrassment in the eyes of many millions of people around the world – as well as to thousands of Gibraltarians.

There are three Gibraltar-based companies listed in the project’s documentation. GONHS will be asking all three to withdraw their support for the dolphinarium.

GONHS has also again been in contact with Government asking them to reject the proposals outright.

GONHS is particularly grateful to the hundreds of concerned citizens who have rallied round to defend the dolphins and is committed to continue its efforts relentlessly until the project is cancelled.

GONHS calls for marine co-ordination

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) welcomes the statements made recently by the Gibraltar Federation of Sea Anglers (GFSA).

GONHS has for decades campaigned for the protection of all wildlife in Gibraltar and its territorial waters. It was GONHS, for example, that unmasked the Spanish declaration of a Site of Community Interest (SCI), which overlaps an existing SCI "Southern Waters of Gibraltar" within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.

Back in 1990, GONHS produced the draft that became the Nature Protection Ordinance (now Act) of 1991. After discussion with fishing groups, GONHS was also involved in drafting the corresponding Marine Reserve Regulations of 1995, which have not been enforced to this day. These, which are still in the statute book, contain most of the necessary instruments to effectively enforce marine protection in all of Gibraltar’s waters. The 1999 local fishing “agreement”, which allowed Spanish fishermen to work our waters despite the Act’s provisions, may have sent out a false signal that our marine protection laws were inadequate.

Local anglers, spear-fishermen and others often express their concerns to us about the non-enforcement of existing nature protection laws (the Nature Protection Act) and the need for further regulation of anglers in particular.

Many Spanish anglers and divers visiting Gibraltar, emboldened by the lack of enforcement of our laws and the apparent 'free-for-all' situation regarding our waters, likewise show little regard for our marine environment.

The Society has continued to press the Government, as well as law enforcement agencies, for the Nature Protection Act to be enforced. Because of the failure to enforce Gibraltar law, some local fishermen have taken to committing offences themselves, either by using fishing nets, or by using aqualungs to fish for octopuses or other marine life, including protected species such as spider crabs. The use of aqualungs for fishing is an offence under the Criminal Offences Act.

GONHS takes note of the GFSA's call for the setting up of marine reserves and wishes to reiterate the fact that Gibraltar has had the Marine Nature Reserve Regulations in its legislation since 1995. GONHS would welcome meeting with organisations or individuals interested in the future of Gibraltar's marine life and sustainable and responsible angling and spearfishing.

GONHS holds second Cave and Climate Workshop

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society is hosting the Gibraltar Cave and Climate Science Field Workshop which is running from 7th to 14th February. The workshop brings together scientists from the UK, France and Germany who are working with Prof Dave Mattey (Royal Holloway University of London) and the GONHS Cave Science Unit on a major international research programme directed at creating a new climate record for the western Mediterranean.

Speleothem (cave deposits such as stalagmites) grow as a result of rainfall and record climate variations that extend back over 500,000 years or more. The project, funded through Royal Holloway by the Natural Environment Research Council, builds on previous work carried out by the Cave Science Unit and Royal Holloway where the relationships between weather patterns and speleothem growth in St Michael's caves are now well understood.

The new project extends the monitoring programme to the Ragged Staff cave system and applies cutting edge dating and chemical analyses to construct detailed climate patterns that will provide vital information on past and future rainfall patterns in SW Europe.

GONHS pleased with New Flame outcome

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) has welcome the final outcome of the New Flame matter.

GONHS has worked with the Government at all stages related to this issue, and fully supports the way the matter has been handled. While regretting the accident when it occurred, and supporting measures to avert this type of incident in the future, it is pleased with the prompt manner in which the wreck was made environmentally safe.

GONHS itself was of the opinion that the remaining wreckage, once made safe for shipping, should remain on the seabed, as removing it would cause more damage, considering also that it is already colonised by a rich diversity of marine life.

It is pleased that the marine consultants, Polaris, were also of this opinion.

The granting of £5.5 million in compensation is a significant achievement in itself, and GONHS looks forward to seeing it being used in enhancing Gibraltar’s natural environment.

EU statement on SCI dispute is "ridiculous" and does not aid conservation

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) has described as “ridiculous” the statement by Stavros Dimas, the European Union’s environment commissioner in response to Gibraltar MEP Graham Watsons’s question. The response shows an incredible naivity on the part of such an experienced commissioner and a total lack of understanding of the situation in and around Gibraltar.

Apart from the legal aspects, and the implication in the statement that Spain has a legitimate claim to our waters, which GONHS is certain the Government will pursue, the suggestion that a joint management scheme will serve conservation is totally unrealistic. While there would be nothing wrong with exchanges of information and collaboration in developing protection strategies in the region as a whole – as proposed under the tripartite forum, and as is common practice in friendly neighbouring countries, which have adjacent protected areas – this is a totally different proposition.

And there are other complications. For example, there are parts of Gibraltar’s waters that Gibraltar and the UK have chosen NOT to designate. Would these now have to be managed as if they were just because Spain, without consulting anyone has decided to do so? Turning the argument around, how would Spain feel about Gibraltar policing those parts of their SCI outside Gibraltar waters, such as the area of Algeciras or Tarifa? Surely that would be part of a fully integrated management scheme?

The Spanish designation has meant an increase in tension and conflict, not the reverse, and the insistence on joint management is tantamount to ensuring that no agreement is ever reached and the marine environment does not get protected by anyone as the political wrangle worsens.

Taken further, as Gibraltar itself is claimed by Spain, would that in Mr Dimas’s judgement, justify Spain declaring a Site of Community Interest (SCI) on the Upper Rock which the EU would then suggest be jointly administered with Spain? How would Mr Dimas distinguish between the two using his arguments, and without entering the political debate, which he so painstakingly but unsuccessfully claims he wants to avoid?

The Gibraltar Government should now respond by an aggressive policing of all environmental matters in our waters, and initiatives to improve its conservation status to show to Europe that we can look after our waters and that we can do so on our own. The settlement in respect of the New Flame should provide finance for such an initiative, which GONHS would wholeheartedly support.

GONHS regrets power station decision and calls for energy re-think

GONHS (The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History) has expressed regret at the Development and Planning Commission’s (DPC) decision to grant the proposed power station an EIA certificate.

GONHS feels that its comments on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) have not been properly addressed and that too many matters to do with the negative impact on wildlife, which the EIA itself acknowledges, are left in the air. While overall the original EIA appears thorough, it fails on certain key aspects. Not enough regard is given either to the massive impact the power station will have on the scenic nature of the south of Gibraltar, nor on measures that will compensate for, or mitigate the many ecological and landscape issues that will arise. This includes the potential decrease of the Barbary Partridge population at a time when GONHS observers are noticing a worrying decline in numbers. An independent assessment of the EIA, while scoring it highly overall, coincides with the GONHS points on landscape and ecology.

Despite negative impacts having been forecast by both the EIA and independent organisations, the DPC has decided to grant the EIA certificate before any mitigation or compensatory measures have been formally proposed.

Regardless of the EIA, GONHS also continues to insist that the whole question of power generation for Gibraltar requires more vision GONHS welcomes the fact that the new power station will mean an end to pollution in areas where there are power stations now. However, hedging Gibraltar’s bets on a power station that will burn fossil fuel will trap Gibraltar in the past when we have had the ideal opportunity to become forward looking leaders in energy production. A new power station should at best have been viewed as an interim measure whilst greener technology that is suitable for Gibraltar, such as renewable hydropower, develops. Rather, it is being viewed as a permanent measure, with higher rates of consumption of fossil fuel forecast for the future.

Not enough importance has been given to the need to reduce carbon emissions and to take real steps to reduce energy consumption in Gibraltar. There is a need for aggressive initiatives to reduce public consumption, and to give incentives to encourage private reduction in use of energy.

It is vitally important also that during construction and future operation, top priority be given to protecting the ecology of the area. It is now imperative – and required by European law – to provide a wide range of mitigation and compensation measures to reduce the impact, in as much as that will be possible. GONHS is aware that steps are being taken by Government to achieve this, but as an organisation has not been involved in the consultation process.

GONHS acknowledges having been able to put its points across to the Government, which it has not succeeded in convincing, and accepts that its officials for the most part feel that the current proposals are the best way forward. But it has to be assumed that once the power station is built it will be here for decades, with the environmental deterioration of the South District continuing for generations. And generations will regret the decision. Gibraltar is sealing its options and will be anchored firmly in the past at a time when fuel costs will spiral and stocks run out.

GONHS therefore makes a new appeal to Government to reconsider its plans and tackle the energy problem in an entirely new and different way.

One of the most serious concerns that GONHS has regarding this decision, however, is in fact a more general one about planning in Gibraltar. This is that there is no quantitative mechanism in place with which the DPC assesses EIAs. There appear to be no fixed criteria that EIAs have to meet, no boxes to tick. Therefore, acceptance or rejection of an EIA is left entirely at individual DPC members' discretion, regardless of the quality of the EIA or the impacts the proposed developments are likely to have on the environment. The DPC's meetings are still not public nor its minutes published, despite manifesto commitments by Government to the contrary.

Governor visits birds of prey

His Excellency the Governor, Sir Adrian Johns, and Lady Johns, today visited the Bird of Prey Rehabilitation Unit run by the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS).

Sir Adrian and Lady Johns were able to see examples of the work of the Unit in recuperating and rehabilitating birds of prey as well as in captive breeding and release and other conservation work.

The Governor and Lady Johns being shown the birds by Vincent Robba and Stanley Olivero of GONHS.

Also present are Dr John Cortes, GONHS General Secretary, and Timothy Cumming, ADC.

To coincide with the screening this week, through the efforts of the Environmental Safety Group, of the feature film “The End of the Line”, the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society, in supporting the initiative, wishes to remind the public that the problems connected to overfishing are very relevant to Gibraltar and its waters.

Not only are Gibraltar’s inshore waters an important shelter and nursery for the fish stocks of the area, but its offshore waters – right up to its territorial limits and beyond – are important for migratory fish. Their protection, within the Gibraltar Site of Community Interest, and under the Nature Protection Act, which applies to all our waters, is vital. Gibraltar was crucial several years ago in stopping the transshipment of tuna and other large fish in Gibraltar’s port intended for Algeciras, and must remain vigilant against this sort of clandestine activity.

Moreover, the public should be aware of the dangers facing species of fish, including sharks, tuna and swordfish, and should therefore demand from shops, fishmongers, bars and restaurants, that their fish are obtained from sustainable sources. swordfish have become of particular concern recently, with stricter restrictions imposed at a European level, in particular on the capture of juvenile fish. Despite the popularity of this species as a dish, GONHS calls on the public, and suppliers, to reduce consumption and at least to ensure that no juvenile fish are reaching our markets, shops or tables. GONHS wishes to take this opportunity to remind the public of other threats to our marine environment, including pollution, illegal exploitation of seashore species such as anemones and limpets for the Spanish market, uncontrolled diving and illegal use of spear-guns, and excess fishing from shore by Spanish nationals who leave discarded tackle and litter in such areas of natural beauty as Europa Foreshore.

The groups welcome the agreements arrived at by the Forum on environmental issues

The following organisations: AGADEN (Asociacion Gaditana de Defensa y Estudio de la Naturaleza), ESG (Environmental Safety Group), GONHS (Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society), Greenpeace and Verdemar-Ecologistas en Accion, have sent a letter to the Tripartite Forum, asking that the agreements made by the forum on environmental matters are translated into an executable plan of action that will specify the measures that will be taken and when these will come into effect.

The letter is addressed to Foreign Ministers Miguel Angel Moratinos and David Milliband, from Spain and the UK, as well as to the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Peter Caruana, and welcomes the positive declarations made on the environment. However the groups urge for action from the governments to ensure that the bay and citizens who live within it, are better protected from the excessive pollution levels in the area.

The environmental groups from both sides of the border would like to contribute further to this process. “We have been campaigning for decades for the proper and full protection of the natural environment of our region and for a solution to the problems of pollution in the Bay area. For almost as long we have been engaging with other groups in the area. Collectively we see the Tripartite Forum as an ideal tool to achieve our aims. Development and industry in the area are currently unsustainable and we need to achieve a sensible balance” said a GONHS spokesman.

In October 2008, environmental groups from Gibraltar and the Campo area submitted a dossier to the technical team meeting in Gibraltar to prepare for the ministerial meeting.

In June 2009, just ahead of the Tripartite Forum Meeting in Gibraltar, cross border environmental groups submitted a document called “Crisis ambiental de salud en la bahia de Algeciras/bahia de Gibraltar”. The paper contained various demands and solutions, of which several were included in the declaration made to the media by the forum on the 21st July to be among those tackled by them.

Dr John Cortes, General Secretary of the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) is currently attending a meeting of the heads of all of Europe’s major bird conservation organizations, the European Partnership Directors’ Meeting of BirdLife International, currently taking place in Malta.

The meeting aims at developing the policy of this, the major international nature conservation organisation, over the coming years, taking into account the challenges facing nature conservation at this time. Among the subjects being discussed are next year’s activities to mark the International Year of Biodiversity, campaigns to promote knowledge of and protection of migratory birds such as the “Born to Travel” and “Spring Alive” campaigns, and the development of the BirdLife programme and ways of working.

GONHS has been a Partner of BirdLife International and its precursor, the International Council for Bird Preservation for 30 years. In Europe alone, the BirdLife Partnership consists of 42 organisations, with 3000 staff, 1.9 million members, managing 6000 nature reserves, covering 73,000 square kilometres. GONHS hosted the European Partnership meeting in Gibraltar in 2000. This year’s event is hosted by the Ornithological Society of Malta, and is being held in the resort of Mellieha in the north of Malta.

Active members of GONHS' Invertebrate Section Rhian Guillem & Dr Keith Bensusan attended the annual conference of the 'Asociación Ibérica de Mirmecología' during the first week of October ('Mymecology' is the study of ants). The association brings together professional scientists and people who work on ants at an amateur level, aiming to pool resources and experiences to increase knowledge of Iberia's very rich ant fauna. During the conference, Rhian gave a presentation on her work in Gibraltar entitled 'An Account of the Mymecofauna of Gibraltar'. Her talk introduced delegates to the ants of this small corner of the Iberian Peninsula and discussed the diversity and composition of the Rock's ants, relating these to ecological and biogeographic factors. The presentation was very well received and, in particular, delegates were impressed with the richness of Gibraltar's ant fauna. 44 species of ants are known from Gibraltar presently, including some very special species. Although a small number may invade homes as pests, most ants in Gibraltar have strictly wild habits, and some are very rare even on a global scale.

BirdLife organisations across the continent announce Europe’s largest bird watching event.

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS), is inviting everyone to join EuroBirdwatch (1) on 3 October, organised annually by BirdLife International (2) and its national Partners. This year special attention is asked for the protection of migratory birds, which are declining rapidly.

The Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS), has organised a number of local events centred around the Alameda Gardens on Saturday 3rd October.

From 8am until midday, Ray Marsh will be on the patio above the Nature Shop demonstrating how birds caught in mist nets, are ringed, measured and weighed and of course released. This activity brings participants, particularly children, close to birds and are often given the opportunity to release them. From around 11am, the Raptor Rehabilitation Unit, led by Vincent Robba will be setting up a bird of prey display. The eagles, hawks and falcons always prove a big draw and visitors will find this a great photo opportunity and can learn about Gibraltar's raptors from Vincent and the team.

This year, for the first time, Gibraltar Arts & Crafts will be holding The Big Draw among the birds, flowers and indeed visitors to EuroBirdwatch.

From 3pm, GONHS will also host an Open Day at the Europa Point Marine Observatory, from which visitors can observe seabirds and perhaps cetaceans. Experienced birders will also be on hand to answer any birding questions and provide advice.

In more than 30 European countries there will be events, ranging from bird watching excursions to ringing demonstrations. Most countries will also have special posts set up to count birds that fly overhead. The results of the counts will be collected by BirdLife in the Netherlands, and will be published all over Europe afterwards. Every year more and more people attend EuroBirdwatch events. Last year the event drew 30.000 adults and children from over 30 countries, and a total of 2.2 million birds were counted. The popularity of birds is clearly growing, but so is the urgency of their conservation.

EuroBirdwatch this year also promotes the Born to Travel Campaign (3), to save migratory birds that travel between Europe and Africa. On their annual journeys migratory birds depends on a range habitats, and the threats are therefore numerous. For example, intensive agriculture in Europe, deforestation in Africa and illegal hunting in the Mediterranean all decrease their chances of survival. [Quote Partner e.g. about inspiring people to protect their environment)

To find out how you can join EuroBirdwatch you can contact the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS)

(1)   EuroBirdwatch (formerly known as the European Birdwatch) is an annual event organised by BirdLife International, comprising hundreds of nationally-organised activities all over Europe. EuroBirdwatch is part of World Birdwatch – a global initiative established over 10 years ago. The goal was to encourage as many people as possible to go birdwatching over one weekend, and to record sightings of as many as possible of the world’s 10,000 bird species.

(2)   BirdLife International is a global alliance of nature conservation organisations working in more than 100 countries and territories. BirdLife is the leading authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the problems affecting them, and is working on a wide range of environmental issues. For more information about the work of the BirdLife European Division: http://europe.birdlife.org

(3)   The Born to Travel Campaign is BirdLife’s international initiative to raise awareness on the urgency to protect migratory birds and their flyways. The campaign was launched in March 2009 and will run until 2012. It is organized by BirdLife Partners across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) has announced that this year's European Bat Night will be held at the Open Air Theatre, Alameda Botanic Gardens on Saturday 12th September.

This event, co-ordinated by EUROBATS http://www.eurobats.org, takes place every year in more than 30 countries. Nature conservation agencies and NGOs from across Europe pass on information to the public about the way bats live and their needs with presentations, exhibitions and bat walks, often offering the opportunity to listen to bat sounds with the support of ultrasound technology. The general date is set for the last weekend in August; however, local organisers sometimes choose other dates if more convenient.

In Gibraltar, GONHS will be using a bat detector through which electronic interpretations of the echolocation calls of passing bats can be heard. There is usually an informal Q&A which is as useful for the organisers as it is for participants.

This event is open to the public and starts at 8pm and will go on until around 10pm.

Contact person is Albert Yome. Attendance need not be confirmed. As this event is within the Botanic Gardens please remember that dogs are not allowed.

Please help to promote this event by printing copies of the POSTER and place these where they can be seen by members of the public, schoolchildren, etc. Please ask owner's permission first and do not place on lampposts, walls, etc.

Satellite TV Channel Animal Planet has started the screening of a new documentary series called “The Animals’ Guide to Survival”. The series deals with the dangers faced by animal species, communities and habitats, by global change, in particular climate change and the effects of human activity.

One of the episodes, entitled “Mangroves and Marshes”, deals with the impact of climate change, and the resultant rise in sea levels, on wetland habitats and species. One of the sites covered in the programme is western Europe’s prime wetland site, the Coto Doñana, in south-western Andalucia. Gibraltarian naturalist, GONHS General Secretary John Cortes introduces this part of the programme highlighting the changes the area has undergone since he first started visiting Donana over a quarter of a century ago.

He has also worked in wetlands in Morocco, was consulted on the general content of the programme, and was one of a handful of scientists who contributed to this latest series produced by the Discover Channel network.

This is not the first timje that GONHS has been involved with Animal Planet. Another recent wildlife programme on the channel dealt with the Barbary macques in Gibraltar, and featured GONHS’s Eric Shaw.

An initiative spearheaded by the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens, a direct result of the Society's GIBMANATUR, the Gibraltar-Morocco INTERREG programme which GONHS ran with the Rabat Scientific Institiue between 2003 and December 2008, has received considerable coverage in botanical magazines. Dr Keith Bensusan of the Gardens' Research and Collections division is coordinating an effort to database information on Moroccan succulent plants that are kept in the collections of Botanic Gardens and prominent private collectors.

Many habitats in Morocco are under threat due to degradation. The arid habitats of the country include an interesting variety of succulent plants, including some species that are endemic (i.e., found only in) Morocco. Management of plants kept in collections is important when these are rare in the wild and their native habitats are threatened. The Alameda specialises in succulent plants. Furthermore, researchers at the Gardens have excellent links with academic institutions in Morocco, developed as a result of their collaboration within the recently-completed Interreg IIIA Gibraltar-Morocco Programme run by the Society and the Scientific Institute of the University of Rabat-Agdal. It is therefore ideally placed to coordinate an effort to manage Moroccan plants and encourage research and conservation in one of our neighbouring countries.

to establish a network of institutions and private collectors who keep collections of Moroccan succulents.

to manage populations in cultivation so that genetic diversity and rigour is maintained

to encourage publication of information relevant to the ecology, biogeography, evolution and conservation of Moroccan succulents

to encourage liaison with Moroccan scientific institutions to promote research and conservation of Moroccan succulents in situ.

'El Botánico', the magazine of the Asociación Ibero-Macaronésica de Jardines Botánicos (of which the Alameda is a member) includes an article on the initiative, inviting other Botanic Gardens which hold succulent plants from Morocco to join the network. A similar advertisement is included in the latest issue of the journal of the International Asclepiad Society. Morocco hosts a range of succulent asclepiad plants, including some that are endemic. Further articles will appear on the subject in other magazines and journals, in due course.

The initiative is still in its preparatory stages, but it has already attract interest and participation from institutions and private individuals, some of whom are authorities on Moroccan succulent flora.

A project to create a Mediterranean woodland at the northern entrance to the Botanic Garden has been given the seal of approval by birds!

The area north of the succulent beds, which stretches along the eastern edge of Grand Parade, has been gradually modified by selective planting over the past 18 years. Native woodland species have been planted and, as these have grown, exotic trees and shrubs have been selectively removed, always leaving the wooded character of the area intact.

So far, native Mediterranean plants to have become established include Narrow-leaved Ash, Mirbech's Oak, Cork Oak, Round-leaved Oak and Strawberry Tree. False Acacias, Trees of Heaven, Lantana and Myoporum have been progressively removed. The area is given minimum management and the ground cover is allowed to develop as naturally as possible.

There are still a good number of years to go before all the exotics are replaced, but a recent development has encouraged the team involved in the project. The area has this year been chosen by a pair of Spotted Flycatchers, which successfully nested there - for the first time in Gibraltar, fledging at least two young over this last weekend - as reported in Recent Records on this website. These woodland edge birds seem to have accepted the changes as a positive move towards their natural habitat!

In recent years Robins have also been present through the summer in the same area, and recently Bonelli's Warblers, another woodland species, have been noted there too.

In another part of the gardens the nightly presence of Tawny Owls also suggests nesting of this species may be taking place within the Gardens.

The increase in the number of bird species nesting within the Alameda is most welcome and seems to be a sign that management techniques employed are benefiting the natural communities of the area.

GONHS Statement on Bay Environmental Document

At a press conference in Seville on 22 June 2009, Greenpeace (Spain) delivered a statement approved by a number of environmental groups from the area of the Bay of Gibraltar. The GONHS (Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society) was not a party to the statement.

GONHS was given the opportunity to sign up to the document. The first draft was totally unacceptable on a number of grounds. Following our comments and work by members of the ESG, the text was considerably improved from the Gibraltar point of view.

While agreeing with most of the environmental points and views included in the statement, GONHS did not feel able to become a full party to it for a number of reasons.

GONHS, together with ESG and AGADEN started their own process of representations to the Tripartite Forum last year, a process which is due to continue.

The statement led by Greenpeace made certain references to the Spanish Site of Community Interest (SCI – “LIC” in Spanish) recently declared in British waters, which GONHS did not consider helpful in achieving the environmental aims.

While most of these reservations may well have been possible to resolve, the time scale presented by Greenpeace was not sufficient, and so GONHS Council declined to sign the statement.

This said, GONHS continues to uphold the need for close co-operation in matters of environmental protection in the area of Gibraltar. This is why it has insisted on the vital importance of Gibraltar joining with Spain and Morocco in the structure of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve established recently and from which Gibraltar was excluded.

It is important that political constraints and opinions do not interfere with environmental protection, but at the same time, political sensitivities must be respected so that politicians do not find it difficult to support environmental initiatives.

Finally, GONHS welcomes Greenpeace’s new, apparently positive approach to environmental issues in our area. Past interventions have shown lack of appreciation of or respect for the local and regional situation and, in the case of the fishing problem, an apparent lack of interest.

GONHS has felt it important to explain to its members, and to the public, why it was not a party to the document. However, this must not be allowed to divert attention from the many real environmental problems facing our regional waters and the community that lives around them, many of which have been well covered in last week’s public statement by our colleagues in other organisations.

Following the tragic death of a diver at the weekend, the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) has once again called for the implementation of the laws intended to regulate activity in Gibraltar’s protected waters.

For years, the GONHS has been campaigning for the bringing into force of the Marine Nature Reserve Regulations 1995 – or an updated version of these - which are intended to govern activities such as diving and fishing in Gibraltar waters, part of which, including the area of the incident, are now part of a European Site of Community Interest (SCI).

A particular concern expressed in the past by the Society has been the unregulated visits by divers from Spain directly onto our natural and artificial reefs without any checks or controls by the Gibraltar authorities. While this weekend’s tragedy cannot necessarily be attributed to this, it is particularly important that potentially dangerous, or environmentally impacting activities are regulated by Gibraltar’s own authorities.

In fact, the Gibraltar Biodiversity Action Plan published by GONHS in 2006 makes several clear calls for control of such activities, and provides a tight framework of recommendations that urgently require implementation.

GONHS would welcome the continuation of a process that will bring about proper laws to govern marine activities in British territorial waters around Gibraltar.

The latest issue of the journal of the International Asclepiad Society, 'Asklepios', carries an important article by staff members of the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens who formed part of the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) research team which visited the south of Morocco last autumn. An article entitled 'On the distribution and habits of Apteranthes joannis (Maire) Plowes', authored by Keith Bensusan, Brian Lamb and Charles Perez, discusses the current state of knowledge of a species of succulent plant that is endemic to (i.e., found only in) Morocco. Apteranthes joannis, which was until recently known as Caralluma joannis, was thought only to occur at a single site between the High and Anti Atlas mountains ranges, where it grows on limestone cliffs. However, the team located this very rare plant at two new sites in the Anti Atlas mountain range, expanding its known distribution considerably. The article discusses the find and expands knowledge of the ecology of Apteranthes joannis considerably. It also discusses the conservation of the species and outlines areas of future research.

'Euphorbia World', the journal of the International Euphorbia Society, also included a short article by Keith Bensusan and Brian Lamb in their last issue. The article is entitled 'An Epiphytic Euphorbia echinus Hook.f. & Coss. in the Anti Atlas of Morocco'. Euphorbia echinus is also endemic to the southwest of Morocco. It is a thorny, Cactus-like spurge that grows in arid, rocky habitats. The article cites the first record of the species growing on the trunk of a tree. The tree in question, the Argan Argania spinosa, is likewise a speciality of the south of Morocco. It is of considerable economic value to locals, who use oil extracted from the nuts to produce a range of products, from very tasty cooking and dressing oil to cosmetic products.

Research carried out by the GONHS in Morocco formed part of a collaborative project between the Society and the Institut Scientifique de Rabat (Morocco), which received INTERREG III funding from the EU.

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) will be represented next week at an international conference in Grand Cayman, in the Caribbean. Dr Keith Bensusan will be the GONHS representative at a meeting that carries the title Making the Right Connections, and which will deal with nature conservation in the UK Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies and other small island communities. It is organised by the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF).

There will be representation from most of the UK Overseas Territories and Dependancies, UK NGOs and the UK Government, including officials from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Joint Nature Conservation Council, as well as UK Members of Parliament and the UK’s Minister for Biodiversity.

Many subjects will be covered, including capacity enhancing, invasive species, environmental education, climate change and protected areas. There will also be meetings of regional working groups, including the European Working group of which GONHS is a member.

At the meeting, GONHS will be making contact with a number of officials and raising the issue of the Spanish declaration of Gibraltar waters as an EU site, stressing the importance of close monitoring of international agreements which impact small territories, especially when there are active territorial disputes.

Also attending the conference will be Dr John Cortes, in his capacity as a member of the UK Forum’s Council and conference organiser. Dr Cortes will be co-chairing a session on raising the profile of NGOs and engaging policy makers and the public.

Coincidentally with recent correspondence in the Gibraltar Press, the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society is hosting two prominent teams in Gibraltar over the next few weeks.

A research group from Notre Dame University in Indiana, USA, led by Professor Agustin Fuentes will continue work on feeding related behaviour and genetics of the macaques. A second team, also from the USA, led by Lisa and Gregory Jones-Engel, the world’s foremost wild monkey veterinarians, will be working on health related aspects of the macaques. They will as always be working very closely with GONHS and the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic.

Coinciding with his latest visit to Gibraltar, Professor Fuentes met with GONHS Council to brief its members on the results of the latest research. This has shown conclusively the importance of wild food for the monkeys and how present feeding methods supply too much food.

GONHS has long maintained this view, confirmed by experts at an international conference on Macaques held in Gibraltar in 2003. However, no scientific data existed on Gibraltar’s macaques that could confirm this. The popular misconception, that the monkeys move into built-up areas because they are not properly fed, is so entrenched, and used mischievously by those who wish to blame GONHS for the macaque problems, that it was important to establish the facts beyond doubt. GONHS and the Notre Dame team manipulated one of the groups so that food was not put out for them for a period of time. The result was that the range of the group was REDUCED from 7 hectares (about one and a half times the size of the Alameda Gardens) to 3 hectares. Observations prove that with less feeding with provisions, the monkeys spend more time forgaing on the Upper Rock and have less time to move away.

This is just one of the conclusions of this research which will shortly be published in international peer-reviewed journals. As with all other such results, this information will be fed by GONHS into the developing “ape” management plan, proving the importance of a good scientific base to all management techniques.

Facts:

Gibraltar’s Barbary macaque population numbers just over 200 individuals

Feeding and handling of the macaques by visitors has encouraged them to associate humans with high calorie food

Gibraltar’s macaques are a valuable asset for tourists and researchers. Urbanised monkeys, as is the case with many other urbanised wild animals in similar situations around the world, become a nuisance and lead to public outcries calling for sometimes extreme measures to reduce their impact

The Barbary macaque is endangered in the wild, where it is still found in parts of Morocco and Algeria

Once again, GONHS has found it necessary to issue a statement on the Barbary Macaque situation, following letters of complaint in the Gibraltar Chronicle. The full text of this statement follows.

Recent letters in the Gibraltar Chronicle have accused the Society of mismanagement of the Barbary macaque population and have implied, sometimes quite pointedly, that the Society is in some way responsible, and therefore legally liable for damage or injury that they may cause.

These statements betray a lack of knowledge of the role of GONHS with the macaques and of the biology of these animals.

The day to day responsibilities of the Society in relation to the monkeys is that of ensuring that there is an adequate amount and quality of food at the agreed feeding areas, and that these are clean. Over and above our contractual obligations, GONHS attends call-outs where possible and collates and maintains a systematic database of the macaque groups.

These activities are carried out within the resources available, and are done well. Sometimes it is not possible to attend to all calls, and at other times such attendance is not successful, as when the monkeys do not respond to attempts to move them away.

Furthermore, GONHS, always working closely with the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic (GVC), a co-contractor in the agreement with Government, regularly discusses relevant matters with Government. The three entities are currently developing an “Ape Management Plan”, based on past and ongoing recommendations of GONHS and the GVC.

The Society wishes to remind the public that the existence in such a small area of a population of non-human primates, the Barbary macaque, is a complex one to handle, given the many conflicting interests. The macaques have no option or ability to behave other than how their biology and instincts dictate, and therefore the human residents of Gibraltar have to assume a collective responsibility in what cues the animals are given.

GONHS has for many years been stating, publicly and privately, that it is an error for the monkeys to be fed by visitors to the Upper Rock and to be encouraged into cars and onto people’s heads and shoulders, as if they were circus animals. It has through the years warned that such behaviour will lead to the monkeys losing their fear of humans and increasingly accosting them. Similarly, GONHS has warned that the feeding of these animals in urban areas, either directly by well-wishers, or indirectly by there being accessible stores of rubbish or other food, will have the effect of establishing urban macaques whenever their natural movements take them through these areas. These warnings have not been heeded, and our predictions unfortunately have been fulfilled.

GONHS has advised residents of estates, hotels, and their managers of how to respond to such visits. Often such advice has been heeded and has been effective. At other times the advice has not been heeded or has not proved as effective. Sadly publicity is rarely given to the many instances when we have been able to solve problems.

It is imperative that Gibraltar as a whole assumes the responsibility of acting according to our guidelines. There are actions for citizens and for authorities, but it must be clear that without everyone’s co-operation the only solution will ultimately be the killing or caging of all our Barbary macaques.

NO feeding of monkeys other than by official operatives; that is no feeding by members of the public, including tourists and tourism operators, on the Upper Rock or anywhere else in Gibraltar.

Active enforcement of laws prohibiting the above, including arrests, prosecution, removal of licences, and fining of anyone found guilty.

Making it a legal requirement that all rubbish bins and enclosures are monkey proof, whether in public areas or private estates.

Ensuring rubbish collection times are such that rubbish is not allowed to stand for hours in open areas.

Control of monkey populations by contraception, exportation, and where absolutely necessary, by culling of carefully selected individuals so as to minimise any negative effect on behaviour, social structure, or the genetics of the population.

Increase in human resources to allow wardening and increased attendance at call outs.

The Society wishes to state categorically that, were any legal action to be taken against it, the evidence it has available, by way of correspondence, reports to the pertinent authorities, research results, and support from international experts, will make it unambiguously clear that the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society has at all times acted diligently and responsibly, and that any such action would fail. In such circumstances, the Society would apply for substantial costs, not only to cover legal expenses, but as compensation for defamation of its good name.

The Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society announces the creation of a new sub-group within the organisation. The Cave Science Unit, is a highly trained and qualified team dedicated tothe study of cave micro-climates. The unit was formed at the recommendation of the 1st International Cave Monitoring workshop recently held in Gibraltar. The unit has been trained by the Royal Holloway, University of London and it is thought to be the first of its kind in the world. It has been involved in a climate change study for five years, and has had several findings published within the scientific community already.

The unit was recently invited by the British Cave research association togive a keynote presentation at the Cave Radio and Electronics Group's Cave technology symposium held in Wales. During the summer of 2009 the Unit will embark on an ambitious project to install cave monitoring equipment in a cave and be able to monitor themicro-climate from a remote location. This technology, once proven, can then be used in any cave location in the world. Cave monitoring has been found to be an invaluable source of climate markers, markers which can give an indication of what the weather was like in the past, essential for climate forecasting.

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) has complained to Government about the dumping of rubble at a former MOD site at the base of the North Face south of Devil’s Tower Road.

Apart from the unsightliness of the growing mountains of rubble in different parts of Gibraltar, the area in question is an important one in terms of ecology. It is one of the only remaining areas of habitat remaining from the once extensive isthmus vegetation. It had been identified as a site for habitat restoration and for resiting of some of the vegetation and wildlife from the former MOD aerial Farm, now intended for development.

There had been a longstanding understanding between GONHS and Government that this area would be conserved. GONHS has not objected to future developments in the area, including the aerial farm and the Eastside development on the understanding that the area to the south of Devil’s Tower Road would be restored, used to accommodate translocated plants and wildlife, and eventually given legal protection under the Nature Protection Act. It is now to become a rubble dump.

GONHS is concerned in addition that whereas the intention is officially to restrict the area of the dump and not to allow deposition of dangerous materials, experience in other similar situations shows that these dumps grow with little control. There is a concern that unless great care is taken ground water would become contaminated affecting the wells on the North Front and contravening European Directives.

GONHS has been working with Government since 2002 in trying to identify areas for rubble deposition. Since then two rubble mountains have appeared, one at Eastern Beach and the other south of Sandy Bay, and the solution seems none the closer. The latter site is already causing concern as its growth is affecting cliff vegetation on the east side, and GONHS has also made representations to Government to the effect.

This shows that Gibraltar has a problem with disposing of rubble. But this is a problem that has existed for years and that will exist in the future. It has not been resolved and there does not seem to be any strategy that would do so. A solution has to be found some time, but postponing this by another few weeks or months at the expensie of a natural area is not acceptable.

GONHS CONCERN ON SPANISH EU SITE DESIGNATION

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) has responded to recent media reports, originating in the Diario de Sevilla, which describe Spanish objections to the declaration in July 2006 of a European protected area, or “Site of Community Importance” (“SCI” in English, or “LIC” in Spanish) named the Southern Waters of Gibraltar. GONHS has now researched the matter and has serious concerns about the situation.

GONHS was involved in providing the scientific information required to the Gibraltar Government with which it worked closely in achieving the designation of the Southern Waters of Gibraltar. GONHS welcomed this designation as reported in its Autumn 2006 issue of Gibraltar Nature News (http://www.gonhs.org/documents/NatureNews12.pdf). The designation was legitimate and totally justified biologically, and GONHS is alarmed at the report that the Spanish Government wished to stop it on political grounds, even though it would have prejudiced important wildlife conservation measures required under European law. Spain has often criticised Gibraltar for not properly looking after the environment so should have welcomed the designation as a significant achievement in environmental protection.

Since the designation, and contrary to the allegations made by the Diario de Sevilla, there has been no action taken by Gibraltar that will have prejudiced the wildlife of the area. While GONHS cannot speak for the Government, it does monitor activity in this field and considers that Gibraltar takes the matter of the Southern Waters SCI seriously.

It has now emerged that the EU, at the behest of Spain, has declared a protected area that overlaps our own and includes Gibraltar’s waters (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:043:0393:01:EN:HTML). This it has done, presumably without consulting the UK or Gibraltar Governments. However, in the consultation process that precedes this declaration, relevant Government Departments would have been consulted as a matter of course. In the UK, this would have been the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), and so it is astonishing that the UK has either not spotted or chosen not to object to the same area being designated again and as a Spanish site.

The designation has been formally adopted by Spain, as it publishes a map in the Boletin Oficial del Estado, no. 315, dated 31 December 2008, which clearly shows what they call the “LIC Estrecho Oriental”, which covers the waters immediately adjacent to the Rock, all the way up to the North Mole (map attached). This covers areas which, after its own assessment, Gibraltar chose to exclude from the Site.

GONHS questions the criteria used for the designation, as the process requires extensive information on the wildlife of the area, which is only held by GONHS in Gibraltar, and was provided to the Gibraltar Government when the designation process was ongoing. GONHS questions whether Spain had the relevant information on the Estrecho Oriental, or whether it has relied on that already included in the UK’s application as provided by Gibraltar.

Technically, the designation of the Estrecho Oriental site gives Spain legal obligations and responsibilities over those waters in relation to nature protection, which would include the responsibility to undertake assessments, and to monitor these areas for wildlife, threats, and other activities with environmental implications. Not only is this already being done by Gibraltarian entities, but presumably it would also assume regular access on the part of the Spanish authorities to our waters. It shows a lack of respect for Gibraltar’s (and the UK’s) position, and implies that Gibraltar does not have the expertise to carry out the necessary work. It calls into question who would be responsible for any environmental disaster in the waters in question. Moreover, any activity in these waters would presumably have to be cleared with and assessed by the pertinent Spanish authorities. They could claim, for example, that dredging off the east side in areas not within our protected area cannot be carried out because it falls within theirs. Presumably too, they will now actively police their own fishermen and stop them fishing in our waters, even though they have always objected to Gibraltar’s authorities controlling Spanish fishing activities. Designation as an SCI requires the development and later implementation of a management plan, with subsequent designation as a Special Area of Conservation managed by the country responsible for the SAC. What country would be the one responsible for this site in the view of the EU? The whole situation can be best described as a mess and a legal nightmare.

While the political aspects are matters outside GONHS’ remit, GONHS is nevertheless seriously concerned at the implications for Gibraltar as a whole.

To make matters worse, the EU official web page mapping the designated sites in Europe now shows the limits of the Spanish protected area, and not the Gibraltar one. While the Diario de Sevilla accuses the UK (and by implication Gibraltar), of trying to acquire territorial waters as a manoeuvre (“maniobra”) under the guise of nature protection, Spain appears to have now sought in the same way to take over these waters.

It is important that both the Gibraltar and United Kingdom Government make it clear to both Spain and the EU that having two overlapping areas is untenable and that the SCI in British waters is under the control of the Gibraltar authorities and that therefore the original designation is the correct one.

This controversy suggests that the failure to include Gibraltar in the international Biosphere Reserve covering areas of Spain and Morocco has not been due to procedural matters, but is due also to political objections (also reported in Gibraltar Nature News (http://www.gonhs.org/documents/NatureNews12.pdf).

Extract from EU website showing the SCI with the limits of the Spanish "Estrecho Oriental" site

The Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS) is hosting the first International Cave Monitoring Workshop which will be held in the Garrison Library this week from 26th February - 1st March. The workshop has been organised by Professor Dave Mattey from Royal Holloway, University of London, and Professor Christoph Spotl from The University of Innsbruck, together with the Caves and Cliffs Section of GONHS, and has attracted cave and climate scientists from all over Europe, America and Australia to discuss the latest techniques that are being used to study cave systems and how they record past climate in stalagmites and stalactites.

Members of the Caves and Cliffs section of The GONHS have played a central role in a recent UK funded research program which has developed and tested some of the most innovative techniques that are being used to decode climate records from cave deposits and accurately reconstruct how climate has changed in the past.

Part of the project has involved using New St. Michael’s Cave as a natural laboratory in which sensitive recording instruments have been specially designed to measure how the cave reacts to changes in weather and seasons. Their results have generated considerable interest from international climate scientists who are now coming to Gibraltar to attend the first ever workshop dedicated to this new field and see the monitoring systems in action.

The impact of the work carried out in St Michael’s cave by GONHS and Royal Holloway has also resulted in the recent approval and funding of a major new research project to be led by Professor Mattey, involving GONHS and a consortium of leading Earth Science departments which include University College London, the Universities of Bristol, Birmingham, East Anglia in the UK, and climate research institutions in the Netherlands and Australia. This work will now focus on measuring far more precisely how climate in the Western Mediterranean has changed since the last Ice Age and will contribute to a greater understanding of how rainfall and water resources in this region may change in response to future global warming.

The Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS) has announced today, that it will be running another Nature Course this Spring. This follows the the success of its inaugural courses held last year. The course is scheduled to start on Thursday 12th March 2009 and end in late April.

The course will cover a wide selection of topics, such as plants, birds, marine life, bats, invertebrates, caves & cliffs, bird of prey rehabilitation and the Barbary macaques, as well as wildlife conservation in general, with all of these focussing on their relevance to Gibraltar.

GONHS' objectives in running this type of course are to raise awareness among the public of Gibraltar's rich natural heritage and of the many threats this currently faces. By doing so, the Society is aiming to increase support for its wildlife conservation efforts and encouraging people to become members.

The format will consist of a series of Thursday evening lectures at The Cottage within the Alameda Botanic Gardens and field trips (usually a morning on the following Saturday) related to the topics covered. The course will be delivered by GONHS' own section heads and other experienced members.

Enrolment is open to all members of the public from the age of 12 upwards. There will be a registration fee of £20 payable before the start of the course. In order to make the course attractive to juniors, Under 16s will only need to pay £10.

Participants completing the course will be awarded a certificate of achievement. People interested in taking part should initially contact GONHS by e-mail to course "at" gonhs dot org or by telephone to 20041235. Names and contact details should be provided. Registrations will however, only be accepted once payment has been received. The course dates will be confirmed once a minimum number of people have registered.

John Cortes, General Secretary of the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society, has been elected onto the Council of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Conservation Forum. At the Forum’s Annual General Meeting held recently at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, he was elected, initially for two years, to the governing body of this international organisation.

The Forum membership is made up of major UK-based nature conservation organisations and nature conservation organisations from the UK Overseas Territories, including the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society. The Council is elected by the membership and aims to consist of people well versed in nature conservation issues.

A Short-toed Eagle that had been spending the winter on the Rock was handed in to the GONHS Raptor Rescue team recently, apparently with a broken leg. However, when inspected by veterinarian Mark Pizarro, it transpired that the bird had in fact been poisoned, and that the weakness noted in the legs of the bird was a result of the toxin and not a breakage. It is likely that the poison had not been laid out for birds of prey, but rather against rats or mice, which the eagle may then have fed on. However, this highlights the danger that such baiting poses to wildlife. Fortunately, on this occasion the eagle was found in time and recovered, but others will not be so lucky.

GONHS asks that rat poison not be used in areas such as the Upper Rock where birds of prey may hunt, and that other methods, such as traps or non-toxic baits be used.

Short-toed Eagles generally spend the winter in tropical Africa, but occasionally stay in southern Europe over the winter. In addition to the individual rescued by GONHS another two were seen hunting over the Rock in December. They feed mainly of reptiles, including snakes, but, especially when this food is scarce, as it will be during cold weather, will take other species - a moribund rat diced with poison will be a very tempting item of prey.

GONHS would like to take this opportunity to thank members of the public who hand-in birds that are injured or ill, as well as the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic for its untiring support of our raptor rehabilitation work.