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?

I have had some response from Moscow on the matter.
Igor Chestin and Alexey Vaisman from TRAFFIC-Russia wrote:

        "We enquired in the Ministry of Ecology about the falcons for "Mr.=
 Yeltsin's captivity breeding programme". President expected some important=
 visit and wanted to present 2 Gyrfalcons for captive breeding (as You=
 probably know, Gyrfalcons are not used for hunting themselves, only their=
 hybrids). Mr. Victor Chernomyrdin (the Prime Minister) was going to visit=
 UAE and wanted himself to present gyrs to sheikhs. They would then breed=
 them hybridising with Saker (Falco cherrug). The person who actually=
 captured falcons works for the Moscow Zoo and is specialising in falcon=
 breeding. Two falcons were captured in Magadan oblast and then brought to=
 Moscow. However, falcons were not allowed by Russian CITES authorities for=
 export and therefore are still in Moscow Zoo, where everybody can enjoy=
 them. Now there is a discussion on what to do with the birds, one of the=
 options considered is to give them to the breeding centre of VNIIpriroda=
 (A. Sorokin).
        Apparently. we do have tremendous problems with Russian Customs=
 Service. These people do not recognise any NGOs at all including TRAFFIC. I=
 did provide them a lot of information on organised crime in wildlife trade,=
 but still have no response respond. For example, I gave the surnames,=
 addresses etc. of people who are smuggling bear gall bladders in the=
 parcels of reindeer antlers. No response. I informed customs about the=
 case, when polar bear skin and walruses ivory were confiscated from=
 American fishermen in Magadan with no official documents permission. No=
 response.=20
        Currently the WWF Russian Programme has received a grant from Swiss=
 Government to do something on illegal wildlife trade in Russia. This is=
 about 110,000 USD per year for 3 years. I am [Igor Chestin] the principal=
 coordinator of the project, but even though I am quite reluctant to be opti=
mistic.
You can reach TRAFFIC Europe-Russia, fax number is +7-095-264-99-27 in=
 Moscow; e-mail: [log in to unmask]"

        This information will indeed raise some new questions about the=
 state of corruption in Moscow. This situation has demonstrated the absurd=
 of the authorities, just look:
        1. Russians pay taxes and would like to preserve their Nature and=
 Biodiversity. They pay the taxes.
        2. Ministry of Ecology and Nature Resources protects the Nature and=
 Biodiversity for Russians.
        3. The Ministry understands that Gyrfalcon is endangered species (as=
 it should according the CITES regulations)
        4. Yeltsin wants to get two birds from the wild for captive breeding=
 (with no breeding facilities in Kremlin).
        5. Yeltsin wants the breeding to take place in Arab countries.
        6. The offsprings of the proposed cross (Gyr+Saker) will not serve=
 for protection of the Red Data book species. Captive propagation is out of=
 the question.
        7. Administration of the President sends a highly skilled breeder to=
 Magadan to capture the falcons. Russian taxpayers pay for the venture.
        8. Ministry of Ecology authorises the action (at the taxpayers=
 expense, of course).
        If the stated above is a crime, it is really well organised on the=
 highest possible level.
WHEN THIS IDIOTISM WILL STOP???????

I will appreciate more comments on the 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]