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On November
26, 1999, the Greek Society for the Protection of Nature awarded
its annual Vyron Andipas Prize to the island of Tilos for
its efforts to preserve the island's wildlife. The prize commemorates
the successful efforts of Mayor Anastassios Aliferis and
the inhabitants of Tilos to ban hunting on the island.
A small
island 65 km from Rhodes
(Rodos),Tilos (1996 population: 300) is host to a variety
of rare bird species, including Bonnelli's eagle (Hieraaetus
fasciatus), one of the most endangered birds in Greece.
Tilos also boasts a large, tame population of locally bred
pheasants. Evidence that the island was once home to far more
intimidating animals was uncovered by paleontologists in 1974,
when they excavated a cave containing the bones of mastodons
and dwarf elephants dating back to around 4,600 BC.
Much has
changed since prehistoric times. But if Tilos' residents have
their way, nature may regain a tiny foothold in one of her
old haunts. In a grass-roots campaign, the municipality collected
residents' signatures to support the ban of hunting, then
petitioned the relevant ministries. As a result, hunting has
been banned here since 1993. However, this law must be renewed
by the government every few years, and efforts to make Tilos
a permanent bullet-free zone continue.
The municipality
has also begun an environmental study of the island. Their
goal? To win EU funding for the creation of a wildlife park,
to protect local flora and fauna, and migratory bird populations.
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