{"id":889,"date":"2018-10-24T15:58:45","date_gmt":"2018-10-24T14:58:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.animalactiongreece.org\/GR\/?p=889"},"modified":"2022-05-26T09:47:32","modified_gmt":"2022-05-26T08:47:32","slug":"save-the-animals-at-the-wildlife-rescue-centre-on-aegina","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.animalactiongreece.org\/GR\/project\/save-the-animals-at-the-wildlife-rescue-centre-on-aegina\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping the wild animals on Aegina"},"content":{"rendered":"

SUCCESS : FREE AT LAST!<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"We are delighted to announce the release of 6 wild birds<\/strong> from the EKPAZ Centre following the ministerial order to close it down, issued by Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, mr Socrates Famelos in October 2018.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

On Sunday the 24th\u00a0<\/sup>of March<\/strong> at Lake Kerkini<\/strong>, northern Greece, \u00a06 wild birds were released back into their native habitat. Under the direction of a special consultative committee of animal welfare experts, set up by the ministry, the birds were transferred from Aegina to Lake Kerkini. The transport costs were sponsored by Aegean Airlines<\/strong> and Animal Action Greece<\/strong>. Deputy Minister Famelos was present to witness the successful release.<\/p>\n

This is the another step in the campaign to release or relocate all the wildlife still at the EKPAZ centre on Aegina. It is important to ensure the released animals will be able to survive in the wild, so the process has to be gradual and continuously reassessed. However we look forward to the removal of the remaining animals as soon as possible, and will continue to monitor the situation.<\/p>\n

You can read the full ministerial press release\u00a0here<\/a>.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Background Information<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Over the last 9 years, several organisations and individuals with expertise in wildlife protection had been filing reports and complaints with every competent authority (Greek Ministries, Directorates, Prefecture of Attica) concerning the appalling state of the Greek Centre for the Protection of Wild Animals (EKPAZ) on Aegina. No effective action had been taken.<\/p>\n

The tragic result of the Centre\u2019s downward spiral into dilapidation and debt was that a facility that started out proudly to provide sick or injured wild animals with rescue and recuperation care until they could be released into the wild, gradually turned into a nightmare of permanent captivity in deteriorating facilities. More than 11,200<\/strong> people<\/strong> signed the change.org<\/em><\/strong> petition that we created in August 2018<\/strong>, aiming to take action on behalf of the animals suffering intolerable living conditions at EKPAZ.<\/p>\n

You can find our petition here<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Note:<\/em><\/strong> We are not currently collecting any more signatures<\/em><\/p>\n

In September 2018<\/strong> we submitted the signatures we collected to the competent Greek authorities, demanding :<\/p>\n