Brussels, 01/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - From the strange sounds they have been making, some animal species that are endangered in Europe, such as the grey wolf and the brown bear, would seem to be in a state of alarm, according to a video released on 29 June by WWF, Birdlife, Friends of the Earth (FoE) and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB).
The species are all protected under EU nature protection directives (habitats and birds directives), which are currently undergoing a “health check” - a re-evaluation which the above NGOs fear could lead to a weakening of strong legislation. With the release of the video, fresh evidence is provided in support of the call they have already made for the retention of these two key nature protection directives.
The video shows a grey wolf in Germany's woodlands, a loggerhead turtle along the coast of Greece and a brown bear in the forests of Romania emitting unusual and rare alarm-like sounds. That, at least, is the interpretation of the NGOs which suggest that the animals fear that their lives and habitats are at risk. And this fear is justified, the European Commission having reported that 60% of key animal populations and 77% of their habitats are still endangered in Europe and need special legal protection (see EUROPE 11318).
The NGOs are delighted to announce that over 280,000 European citizens have already joined the Nature Alert initiative, launched just over a month ago by WWF, asking politicians to defend the habitats and birds directives (see EUROPE 11319). The video can be watched on line at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNCDZ4FB1g0&feature=youtu.be (Aminata Niang)