The Ministry of Environment today received 60 flamingos which the Port Said Border Guard had seized from inside a vehicle that was attempting to smuggle them out of Port Said.
The 60 flamingos were handed over to Ashtoum al-Gamil Reserve in the Port Said region, where they were released into the largest gathering of flamingos in the reserve. Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad said that legal action is being taken against the smugglers.
Ashtoum al-Gamil Reserve is located 7km west of Port Said off the Mediterranean coastal road that snakes along the strip between the sea and Lake Manzala. At the mouth of the Lake is the famed Tanees Island. The entire area is rich with bird life. Lake Manzala is home to more than 200 species of resident, migratory and rare birds. More than 500,000 birds have been spotted in the area; these include flamingos, pelicans, wading birds, egrets, starlings, quails and gulls.
Ashtoum al-Gamil will be hosting Port Said’s Bird Watching Festival for its second edition during 29 November – 5 December 2023, in the wake of its first edition’s huge success last year.
Port Said Governorate and the Ashtoum al-Gamil Reserve are located on the third migration route for migratory birds, including waterfowl, waders, arboreal birds, and some raptors. Flamingos are among the most important birds that pass by the region.
For its part, the Ministry of Environment is taking illegal trade in wildlife very seriously; it cooperates with local authorities and police to regularly inspect markets and pet shops to make sure they do not trade in wildlife. Periodic inspections of farms and tourist villages which have licenses for wildlife animal reproduction are also carried out. The Ministry also cooperates with civil society organisations, animal rights activists, and volunteers to make sure smuggled animals are seized and released into their original habitat. The Ministry also has allocated a Whatsapp number to receive report of attempts at trafficking or illegal hunting of wildlife.
Watani International
27 November 2023