In Pics: Egypt saves griffon vulture, sends it to Ras Abu Galum Reserve

CAIRO - 5 May 2020: "Egypt’s Ministry of Environment saved a griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), one of the world's largest raptors and sent it to Ras Abu Galum Reserve in South Sinai," announced the ministry in a statement on Monday evening.

The ministry has been informed that a citizen in Dahab city, South Sinai, has the vulture in his house; possessing the vulture violates the Egyptian Environment Law 4/1994 and its 2009 amendments. Officials from the ministry and Dahab police station as well as other concerned bodies headed to the house and confiscated the vulture.

"However, the man denied knowing that possessing or trading in wild animals is a crime, saying that he was looking after the bird," the statement added.

"The man showed his cooperation with the concerned body to send the eagle to the natural environment," the ministry continued in the statement.

The ministry called upon citizens to report attempts of illegal possession of animals or birds via calling the ministry’s hotline 19808 or contacting the WhatsApp number 01222693333.

"Egypt has a total of 110 animal species, including 70 species threatened with extinction due to climate change impacts and poaching," Ayman Hamada, director of the Biodiversity Department at the General Directorate of Nature Conservation, told Egypt Today in previous comments.





Additional reporting by Samar Samir