Recently Raptor-link was informed by an anonymous source about the=
 capture of two Gyrfalcons and their subsequent removal from the wild. The=
 Gyrfalcons were captured on the Okhotsk Sea Coastal flyway near Magadan in=
 summer 1994 and were possibly individuals from Alaskan population. The=
 Gyrfalcons were captured under a legal permit issued by the Ministry of=
 Ecology of Russia and registered at the Magadan District Committee of the=
 Ministry of Ecology. The permission itself was signed by the Russian CITES=
 official at the Ministry of Ecology. The purpose was stated as "breeding in=
 captivity". The organisation to whom the permits were issued was the=
 Administration of the President of the Russian Federation. Has anyone ever=
 seen Gyrfalcons in the Kremlin or ever observed Mr. Yeltsin to breed=
 falcons? (Perhaps one day he might even subscribe to Raptor-link.)
        This small incident shows the level of corruption in Moscow. Private=
 breeders have to pay enormous bribes for permits to breed falcons or must=
 conceal their activities while some crooks in the Kremlin, in collaboration=
 with top officials from the Ministry of Ecology, cover up the unnecessary=
 removal of birds from the wild. We by no means believe that the permit was=
 issued for true captive breeding. Mr. Yeltsin can hardly spare time for=
 such activities as he is busy either in the hospital or preparing his=
 re-election campaign as a President. In any case, according to the=
 Constitution the duties of the Administration of the President do not=
 include falcon-breeding. Will the taxpayers approve of the President's (or=
 one of his aid's) joy of falcon-breeding? And where he breeds the birds? At=
 the mausoleum or in a shed at the Red Square?

        Raptor-link will appreciate any information on this matter.

Raptor-link is a quarterly bilingual newsletter on Russian birds of Prey and=
 Owls. You can contact Raptor-link via e-mail: [log in to unmask]