I read the Government of Cyprus has got help of a green Snake expert from Germany. I know there are two of them: a lady and a young man, who both got all their knowledge because Snake George informed and taught them. So, why ask them? Cyprus I think doesn`t need any help from so called Green Snake experts from Germany. Cyprus has got the best expert in the country. He has lived there, has acted, has done research, has taught adults and children, has done a lot to protect Green Snakes and all reptiles and amphibians. Snake George has changed the word a bit! The Government of Cyprus should thank God and employ this wise, knowing and active man, who is well- known here at the University of Bielefeld in Germany as in many countries all over the word .

I read the Government of Cyprus has got help of a green Snake expert from Germany. I know there are two of them: a lady and a young man, who both got all their knowledge because Snake George informed and taught them. So, why ask them? Cyprus I think doesn`t need any help from so called Green Snake experts from Germany. Cyprus has got the best expert in the country. He has lived there, has acted, has done research, has taught adults and children, has done a lot to protect Green Snakes and all reptiles and amphibians. Snake George has changed the word a bit! The Government of Cyprus should thank God and employ this wise, knowing and active man, who is well- known here at the University of Bielefeld in Germany as in many countries all over the word .

It is not just motocross or fisher men that represent danger to these snakes. Entire population must be educated about the fact the every creature has its purpose. Several times we caught small snakes (I believe, these were coin snakes) from the pool area of the house next door to us and we took them in a box far to the fields, away from the residential areas. When I would mention that at work, every single Cypriot would insist that we were crazy and that snakes should be killed, especially black ones - "the most dangerous", according to them. Also it is so sad to see the garbage dumps in every riverbed :( it is such a beautiful island, it is hard to understand why locals are doing their best to destroy it. I have nothing against Cypriots. I had a great welcome here. But it is a fact that people here should be educated about respecting of the nature.

Demetris
thank you for your constructive comments, i certainly dont bash Cyprus or Cypriots, the majority i have come into contact with are lovely people, dare i say a credit to their country.
How right you are when you say education is the path to conservation. And a pity that such fantastic wildlife programmes as made by Sir david attenborough are not seen on Cyprus TV.
I feel that the government should allow people like snake George to go around the schools giving talks and showing the kids what creatures are out there and the good they do in the general pattern of life.
However its not all doom, a couple of years ago a girl attending school here said her class was taken to Paralimni harbour and spent time clearing up the rubbish left around there..im pleased to say the harbour still remains a clean and tidy place to visit and stroll.
As for hunting with dogs in the UK its been banned for several years, but i bow in respect to the Germans who banned it years before the UK !
Regards.

I read your article with much interest as i too am a herpotoligist in the uk.I feel that something should need to be done in order to protect this species.I have met snake george on several times when visiting the parks and know he does some great work in protecting all of the 7 species to the island.

ben, I couldn't agree more with you on the snakes. We, Cypriots, lack the proper education to recognize the importance these reptiles and other endangered species play to our ecosystem. And we also lack TV shows like Discovery, and National Explorer, that often make compelling demonstrations on conservations. I get your point and I agree with you. But let's not make the criminal ignorance of some, a bashing of Cyprus as a country. It's like saying that Britain doesn't belong in the EU because a small minority sees a noble cause in allowing fox hunting - no offense intended. Yeah Mark Thatcher, the liberator of N. Guinea, go figure.

Demetris i think you have the wrong comment section, we are talking about an endangered snake, not a snake in the grass.
I thought your link at the bottom was about conservation in Africa, but its about Mark bloody Thatcher!!
Or did you see it as an opportunity to bash (generalise)about The British people?
Perhaps you should find out how much the ordinary person from the UK donates to animal welfare and threatened species projects, mainly from people who will never see what their donations achieve around the world.
Lisa.
I fully support Snake Georges work and have travelled right across the island several times to visit the sanctuary that he had and to talk to him about the problems of conservation..
If you read the article again you will see that paralimni lake was supposed to have been protected some time ago but it has only recently emerged that this was not done..perhaps if people had known this words could have been converted into actions, but it wasnt and this is why the commission is taking court action.

"ben dover" I hope you practice what you label yourself as. There was a time when Margaret Thatcher wanted to keep Germany out of the EU because she didn't want them to dominate Europe. I'm happy to belong to a country still struggling with the concept of conservation and proper governance than to one with a long list of petit back-room back-stubbing politics and colonialism conspiracies and espionage. Abuse of our environment and our system hurts us foremost, but your country's incomprehensible actions hurt people in places one cannot even fathom: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4169557.stm

Another excellent job by Snake George to save Cyprus' Snakes! When I phoned him asking for advice about the largest Black Whip Snake ever recorded, he was wonderful.Living alone in a remote village with small dogs, I feared the 3 meter snake might eat them and have a go at me, but George reassured me that the snake would guard us from dangerous vipers. He was right! He taught me that a black whip snake is an excellent friend to have around. I protected this famous snake (mentioned in this paper and several others) from being poisoned. George me photos of the grass snakes- they are beautiful, very rare and utterly harmless. If people in Paralimni wish to help save Cyprus' Grass Snake from extinction, they might spend more time there, speaking with fishermen, and so forth. It's a simple tactic that worked for me. Admiring the people and the country's rare species made the difference that complaining about all the rubbish/building/attitude wouldn't have done. Sitting back and complaining that the minister should do more will not work. So many people put in huge effort to save the dogs and cats, and that's good, but what George does is extraordinary. We must help him fight this good fight.

protected site ? thats funny as there is part of a roundabout and constuction going on on part of it, and constuction vehicles and building rubbish elsewhere!!! plus dirt biking and the usual "hunters", i bet the rare grass snake is over the moon at its status.
isnt Cyprus already in the court for violations at the Voroklini migration site?
And look at what a state the Akamas is in..
If you only thought that you could get in the club so as to beat Turkey up and not stick to the rules you made a mistake - every club has its rules and you have to abide by them.
You are turning your country into a barren rubbish tip bereft of wildlife and thats the legacy you want your children to remember you by?
Your indifference is going to turn round and bite you back one day..