Armenian ecologists defend wolvesMarch 4, 2011 - 15:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Coordinator of the ecological public union, Chairperson of the Center for Bird Lovers Silva Adamyan said that the Armenian government’s decision to set an AMD 100,000 reward for wolf hunting is unacceptable. “Armenia’s biosphere has sharply reduced in Armenia over the past years. Huge forested territories have been eliminated, what in its turn has resulted in loss of the species,” Adamyan told a press conference in Yerevan, adding that this has led to misbalance in wildlife. “Wolves have nothing to hunt and that is why they have started raiding populated areas,” said Adamyan. She added that in a recent conversation with British colleagues, they asked to convey their message to the Armenian government – not to allow wolf hunting. English ecologists told her that no wolves are left in England due to a similar policy. Citing increased livestock killings, the Armenian government announced on February 10 financial rewards for wolf hunting across the country. The government said hunters will receive AMD 100,000 ($275) for every grey wolf shot by them. The payments will be carried out by the Ministry of Environment Protection. The ministry will receive AMD 10 million in government funding for that purpose. The authorities said the drive was necessary because the number of wolves has been growing and they have increasingly been raiding populated areas and killing farm animals. The Armenian Ministry of Nature Protection estimates that there are several hundred wolves in the country and they are not on the list of endangered species. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. |