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Fri, 19 Jan 1996 10:59:49 +0100 |
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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]
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