ILLEGAL HUNTING IN ARMENIA’S PROTECTED AREAS REDUCED: ARAM AGHASYAN
Tert.am
16:05 ~U 01.04.10
Head of the Specially Protected Areas Division at the RA Ministry
of Nature Protection Aram Aghasyan, at a press conference today,
said that, compared to last year, there have been less incidents of
illegal hunting in protected areas.
That, according to Aghasyan, is the result of improved control,
adding that if a few years ago those supervising protected areas
were paid a monthly salary of 10-15,000 AMD (about $25-37.50 USD),
well now they get paid 50-60,000 AMD (about $125-150 USD).
"Today, there’s a false opinion that certain things are taking
place in prohibited areas, that poaching exists. Let’s refrain from
disinformation," said Aghasyan, adding that he supports hunting which
is legal.
World Wildlife Fund Armenia Director Karen Manvelyan, in turn, said
his organization today is no longer concerned with the hunting ads
placed on various sites, since there is a very active struggle against
poaching in protected areas.
"Today we view that with mockery. Let them come, get caught and pay
fines," he said. According to Manvelyan, making a case against those
sites is quite difficult.
Both Manvelyan and Aghasyan noted that currently the amount of fines
for hunting protected animals are being reviewed. Today, if sheep
and bezoar goat in one area are hunted, the fine is set at 3 million
AMD, and if hunting in a protected area, five times that amount
is collected.