Association of Young Biologists: Ecosystems of Our Caves Endangered

EcoLur

The Association of Young Biologists has addressed an open letter to Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan and Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosyan demanding to save the unique ecosystems, Magel, Mozrov and Arjeri (Bear) Caves. 

The letter particularly says “recently tourist visits to these caves have become more frequent in the frames of the tours prepared by different tourism clubs and organizations. Visits to the caves can cause damage to the cave inhabitants, i.e. bats. The fate of Magel, Mozrov and Arjeri (Bear) Caves, Vayots Dzor Region, cause the most concern. These caves are inhabited by species recorded in the Red Book of Armenia and the Red List of IUCN.”

The caves are rapidly turning into tourism centers. Tourists wake up bats who lead nightlife. Bats start rushing about and getting stressed. Their natural way of life is disturbed. The energy they are acuumulating for wintering is wasted. 

Photos by "Association of Young Biologists" NGO

October 20, 2011 at 14:18