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August 2007 LOG-BOOK: News about the Bird-flu is in red and about the environment in blue August 1st: in the “deserted house” we have seen only one Little Owl; however, we couldn’t see if it was a “wild specimen” or one of the, released by us, ones. From three young rats, which had been capable to bite a corridor through the wall of the Aviary, two were still busy to keep their heads above the water-surface by treading water; the third meanwhile had reached the bottom already. The first two united with their nest-fellows and them all kept as owl-fodder.We have heard that the Little Owl from Mytiléne yesterday evening, while one tried to catch him/her, had flown away. The hit-by-a-car Tom-cat from Pétra (07-145; July 29th ’07) is perfectly using the litter-box. However, the whole left rear-leg is quite thick & swollen. One phoned us that the announced Sparrow meanwhile went up to heaven without using its wings . . . . From one of the rear-legs of one of the taken-from-Holland ex-Tom-cats we have removed under a total anesthetic a tumor in one of the veins.Islands low on water The government declared a state of emergency on the islands of the Cyclades in the Aegean yesterday as water shortages, the result of scant rainfall and a series of heat waves, reached a peak. The islands worst affected by dwindling water resources are Kimolos, Milos, Syros, Tinos, Paros (where our colleague-hospital is situated > note from the L.W.H.) , Sifnos and Ios. Yesterday the mayor of Kimolos, Theodoros Maganiotis, warned that the island's resources had run dry. “We need help, there has been no water on the island since yesterday,” Maganiotis told state television. The dwindling supplies on Kimolos and Milos are largely due to the infrequency with which water is delivered to them by ferry. Santorini already has a desalination unit in operation, which boosts its water supplies. But longstanding plans to build similar units on Syros, Tinos and Paros have stalled due to residents' protests and bureaucratic hurdles. Aid for fire victims increasedUnder pressure from opposition parties and irate residents, the government yesterday raised to 1.8 million euros the amount of aid it has pledged to the fire-ravaged prefecture of Aigialeia in the northern Peloponnese. Meanwhile, pilots of firefighting aircraft told Kathimerini that Greece’s air fleet was in need of an overhaul as eight CL 415 Canadair “water bombers” have to take the brunt of efforts to put out fires. Last June, firefighting airplanes clocked up some 1,500 hours of flying time. This June, that figure exceeded 4,000 hours. Russia has loaned Greece a Beriev BE 200 aircraft with its crew to help fight wildfires. The airplane can carry up to 12 tons of water and was used for the first time yesterday to put out a fire in the Tourla area of Pieria, northern Greece. Local authorities said they were impressed by the Beriev’s capabilities. At 12.22 p.m. the African Grey Parrot (07-144; July 27th ’07) went back to his grateful owner in a 100%-condition. August 2nd: the left rear-leg of the hit-by-a-car Tom-cat is very thick and painful > touching from our side had a huge-bite-injury as result . . . . !! Release: At 6.10 a.m. we have released in the deserted house 1 Little Owls: green (the youngest and last remnant of it’s nest, 07-072; May 21st ’07) and silversilver (-7-091; June 13th ’07). And again a young rat had penetrated the wall in the Aviary and again only treading water was possible. We had to stop those fatiguing efforts abruptly. At 8.10 a.m. a phone-call from someone on his way in a cold storage truck, that he had a pigeon “on board” > picked-up at the petrol-station. See further at ORNAMENTAL PIGEON. In the morning 2 Dutch visitors. During this visit “our” carpenter Panagiótis came with one of his puppies which had a quite swollen belly. One cc olive-oil intra-rectal was given and he was showed how to repeat this. Not in the statistics. Rural Police recruited The government announced yesterday it will bring back into action the country’s Rural Police, after disbanding the force almost 15 years ago, in a move it says will help protect the country’s shrinking forest areas. By using the term “ecological police,” Public Order Minister Byron Polydoras said the rural law enforcement officers will be in place to help protect forests from fires by the end of the month. “In an initial phase, the Rural Police will operate with basic training as the regular training of three weeks will take place at the end of fire danger season,” said the minister without clarifying what the basic training will involve. The government will initially rush out a force of 1,000 rural police officers who will also be appointed the task of protecting forests from illegal building activity and general protection of the environment. “Our aim is for this force to be a force with a social and ecological contribution,” added Polydoras. The Public Order Ministry, which is in charge of firefighting operations, has been accused of poorly coordinating efforts to put out the thousands of fires that have been burning across Greece so far this summer. Plans to bring back the Rural Police had initially been drawn up by the ministry more than two years ago but had since been shelved, according to sources. Fires ease to allow start of cleanup Some 60 fires ravaged forestland and agricultural tracts around the country yesterday but most had been extinguished by nightfall. At 5.35 p.m. a phone-call came from Pétra (from a Dutch tourist over there) that in a restaurant over there a MONKEY should be in a much too small cage. He will send a picture of the monkey when he is possible to do so. We have informed the Dasarcheío and so there will be some action in future. August 3rd: the yesterday taken-in Ornamental Pigeon is eating well and flying well too, so we don’t understand why the bird was brought-in. Only, probably it’s not an adult but a juvenile. At 7.50 a.m. arrived the, already a long time ago, announced DOG for a good trimming > see over there. The Ornamental Pigeon, which was taken-in yesterday morning, was transferred at 10.15 to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. The trimmed dog went at 11.50 a.m. back to his owner. Fires abate as weather cools
A firefighting plane drops water on a blaze at the foot of Mount Olympus yesterday. The fire, which started on Wednesday night and is believed to have been the work of arsonists, was described by local authorities as ‘an environmental disaster.’ It was one of just a handful of fires still alight in Greece yesterday as temperatures dropped. The worst of yesterday’s fires was at the foot of Mount Olympus. Local authorities believe that the blaze, caused by three smaller fires which started simultaneously on Wednesday evening, was the work of arsonists. Mayor Nikolaos Balsamopoulos described the damage wreaked on forestland as “the worst since the German bombing of 1943.” Meanwhile European Union figures showed that last month was the worst July on record for forest fires on the continent. After the siesta 4 Dutch visitors. August 4th: the Tom-Cat with the spinal-, pelvis-, leg-injury (??) is sitting more and more straight. The yesterday to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” transferred Decorative Pigeon is doing quite well over there. Checking the deserted house this morning no Little Owls were present anymore. Meanwhile we have received from Holland the pictures of the MONKEY and at once send to the Dasarcheío. We received a phone-call from Ánaxos from 2 Dutch visitors of July 27th that they wanted to take a little CAT with them to Holland > see further at CAT. The male of this family was treated as well for a needle of a see-urchin in his foot. This not in the statistics. Fires stir Greeks into extending a helping hand The recent string of destructive wildfires across Greece appear to have prompted a number of Greeks to take a more keen, and active, interest in the environment as the green organization WWF Greece indicated yesterday that there had been a 900 percent increase in people offering to help clean up and protect forests. The environmental group told Kathimerini that it usually receives around 100 applications from people volunteering their time to help on these sorts of projects. However, following the devastating fire on Mount Parnitha, north of Athens, in June, some 900 people have expressed an interest in becoming volunteers with WWF. “From September, we will see how we will make use of this interest in areas that have been damaged by fire,” said WWF spokeswoman Maria Panteri. Meanwhile, news from Cassandra in Chalkidiki, which was ravaged by fire last year, could provide authorities in Attica with hope as there are signs that the burned forest is recovering and vegetation has reappeared in two-thirds of the area. “We followed scientists' instructions and let the forest regenerate on its own,” the director of Chalkidiki's forest service, Lefteris Pitsokas, told Kathimerini. He revealed that there was limited planting of new trees in the area and local authorities hope that in 15 years the signs of the fire will no longer be visible. And now why things are going “wrong” in Greece; even with National Parks > these parts are made bold and cursive by the L.W.H.: Schinias park lacks protection Poor supervision of a national seaside park in Schinias, northeast of Athens, has put the natural environment at risk as the relevant authorities have turned a blind eye to businesses and campers taking over the area, according to the park’s management. Kimon Chadzimbiros, head of the park’s administration, told Kathimerini that he had warned the authorities involved – firefighters, police, the Environment Ministry and the Marathon Municipality – with a letter sent to them at the end of last month but added that no action has since been taken. “Unfortunately, the likelihood of destroying the Schinias-Marathon national park remains high because preventive measures are not being put into effect by the authorities that have been appointed this task,” he said. A growing number of illegal businesses operating in the park area are putting at risk the forest due to the operation of potentially dangerous electricity generators and gas cylinders. Other problems caused by the lack of supervision include hundreds of campers setting up their tents or caravans unsupervised while burning campfires. “Preventative steps need to focus on reducing the main threats,” added Chadzimbiros, who is also an associate professor at the National Technical University of Athens. It still remains to be answered why firefighters have not shut down businesses in the forest found to be in breach of the law, added Chadzimbiros without clarifying what the offenses were. Other threats to the park area include massive amounts of rubbish piling up and posing a fire risk. We could remove from the chin of the Tom-cat all four stitches > has healed well. August 5th: the swollen left rear-leg of the Tom-cat is diminishing a bit; however, a come-back of functions isn’t yet discoverable. And because now we’re starting to have some hope, we named him “Ámmos” (Sandy). After we had removed with a fist-hammer and a stone-chisel lots of curled-in-the-air concrete, we could flatten and fill another hole where once an “Alibaba-jug” had been. August 6th: the Dog-fox is eating worse and worse, so a quick release is necessary. Releases: At 5.56 a.m. we have released in the deserted house the last three Little Owls: redred (07-099; June 17th), blueblue (07-100; June 18th) and orangeorange (07-125; July 5th); all three from Parákoila. At 8 a.m. we had caught the Dog-fox and exactly at 10 a.m. he jumped with such a bloody speed in Achladerí into freedom, that we, standing with the camera at the ready, only could see a flying white tail-tip disappearing . . . . !! Today was “meat-cutting-day” again and with the help of a Dutch friend of us (who offered again an morning of her holiday to help us) 14,065 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat was processed (price 92,24 Euro). Together now this year 374,210 kilo for 2389,39 Euro. Fire costs soar to 40 mln eurosThe thousands of forest fires that broke out across Greece this summer have pushed up the cost of leasing planes and helicopters used for firefighting to 40 million euros from some 24 million euros in previous years, according to a Public Order Ministry source. ISLAND BLAZEStrong winds fan flames on Corfu; village evacuated as precaution A fire on the western island of Corfu prompted authorities yesterday to evacuate the village of Santa for precautionary reasons. Five water-dropping planes along with two helicopters were taking part in the fight against the blaze that was being fanned by strong winds. Hail damageA brief hailstorm in Serres, northern Greece, caused damage to crops in the Nigritas area on Saturday, authorities said. Some 500 hectares of farmland, consisting of tobacco, grapes and watermelon crops, were affected by the storm. Lucky escapeA firefighter escaped with a light injury after being struck by a rock that fell from the slopes of Mount Belles in Serres, northern Greece, yesterday, as a result of extreme temperatures caused by preceding fires on the mountain range, according to a police report. August 7th: the orangeorange Little Owl is spotted as well yesterday as today in the neighborhood: in the chicken-run of neighbor Yiánnis !! Heavy floods take up baton from wildfires
A worker cuts branches yesterday from trees burned in the fire on Mount Parnitha in June. Dozens of people have been employed to build flood barriers on the mountain, north of Athens. Trunks of charred trees are cut down and lashed together to be used as barriers on the mountain slopes. Almost half the work has been done. Greece’s summer of natural disasters took a new twist yesterday as authorities in northern Greece switched from fighting wildfires to trying to cope with floods caused by rainfall that was much heavier than the seasonal average. More than 500 homes were flooded according to officials in Evros, northeastern Greece, as the rain, which began on Sunday, continued to fall. The floods disrupted road and rail travel as 45 passengers had to be evacuated from a train near Komotini after a stream broke its banks and water covered the tracks. At least 15 people had to be rescued from villages near the city of Alexandroupolis after climbing onto the roofs of their homes to escape the rising water level. Authorities in Serres said that 85 millimeters of rain fell in just 24 hours. The average for the whole of August is 30.2 millimeters. Hail also fell in Serres and is thought to have destroyed some 500 hectares of crops in the area. The bad weather also forced Thessaloniki’s Macedonia Airport to shut down for several hours on Sunday night. Ten flights were diverted to land at other airports. The bout of rainy weather put authorities in Attica on flood alert, particularly as works to prevent flooding on fire-ravaged Mount Parnitha have not yet reached even the halfway stage. “It would have been very unfortunate if the weather that struck northern Greece made its way down south,” Giorgos Baloutsos of the National Agricultural Research Foundation told Kathimerini. “Flooding would have been inevitable.” Despite the rain in northern Greece, authorities in the northern Peloponnese had to battle a wildfire that broke out near the town of Akrata. Traffic stopped on the Athens-Patras highway as helicopters flew over immobilized cars to drop water on the fire, which burned some 15 hectares of scrubland. New rural force threadbare Members of Greece’s revived Rural Police, put together with the aim of helping to protect the country’s shrinking forest areas, will be required to use their own cars and mobile phones to perform their duties and will be dressed in air force uniforms due to a lack of funds, it was revealed yesterday. The extra 1,700 officers are expected to start work as of 2009, while most of the initial workers will be picked from the government exam held to hire Rural Police in 1993. “We had been put on ice for 14 years. Today we at last feel relief for the re-establishment of the Rural Police,” one of the successful entrants from the 1993 exam told Kathimerini. One of the criticisms aimed at the government over the move is that successful candidates from the test 14 years ago will now be over the age of 40. On the local rubbish-dump we could collect some thrown-away military objects; a.o. tents & shelters, with which we can create lots of shadow-places for the aviaries. At ± 8.30 p.m. a phone-call from two Dutch trainees, who asked for a trainee-ship over here in August/October, because their original trainee-place on Gran Canaria was burned down; after deliberations over here we have reacted positively, although it will become a bit “overcrowded”. August 8th: we could remove 3 of the 4 stitches from the leg of the Tom-cat, which had a tumor removed August 1st (see over there). The 4th he had removed himself. Under a light anesthetic we removed dental scale from the mouth of our eldest dog “Prótos”; as well his nails were clipped. Not in the statistics (as usual). In the morning 2 Dutch visitors. Cost of floods counted Damage caused by recent heavy rainfall that flooded parts of Alexandroupolis, northeast Greece, have exceeded the 3-million-euro mark as authorities warned of further heavy flooding this winter. According to initial assessments of Evros prefectural authorities, the floods caused extensive damage to infrastructure over a 5-kilometer stretch of Alexandroupolis’s beach zone. “The most beautiful part of the area has been destroyed. The beach looks like it has been bombed,” Evros Prefect Nikos Zambounidis told Kathimerini. More than 500 houses were also flooded by the heavy rainfall that hit the area on Sunday and Monday. Asopos water is deemed ‘deadly’ The latest tests on water from the Asopos River in central Greece have shown higher-than-expected levels of cancer-causing depleted chromium, prompting experts to issue urgent warnings about the danger to some 30,000 people in the area in drinking tap water. Kathimerini has seen the results of the tests carried out by the General Chemical State Laboratory, which were handed to the Municipality of Oinofyta, which is that most affected by the contamination of the river. Critical rangersPark rangers accused the government yesterday of adopting outdated tactics in its decision to set up a new Rural Police force. The Panhellenic Federation of Park Rangers was responding to news that the government will set up a 1,000-member rural police force, which will expand to 2,700 members at a later date, to protect Greece’s forests as of August 16. “It is inconceivable that park rangers should be understaffed by 2,000 people and at the same time they are setting up a new force at a much larger cost,” said the federation in a statement. August 9th: we are preparing for the release of lots of birds: 3 Hooded Crows, 1 Hoopoe, 2 Jays, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Sparrow and 3 Barn Owls; all had come-in as juveniles in the past months. Starting with today, this will happen in the coming days. We couldn’t discover anymore any Little Owl in the deserted house this morning. Releases: At 9.54 a.m. we have set free in the deserted house three Barn Owls: red (07-080; May 31st), green (07-082; June 1st) and purple (07-137; July 16th). The two first-mentioned birds at once flew-up to the rafters, but purple showed (as what we had suspected) not being capable of flying well; reached only the 1,5 meter-mark > so was indeed a “nest-misfit”. Taken with us back to the Barn Owl-aviary in “The Keep”; probably for ever. For the two first mentioned birds water & food will be placed over there for the coming days. At 11.10 a.m. we left with 3 Hooded Crows for the “Gomateríe” for a release: green (07-088; June 12th), bluesilver (07-1107; June 21st) and orange (07-141; July 26th). Due to a “mistake” the birds came free in the car . . . . !! Orange and bluesilver left the car, flying perfectly, but green showed hardly being capable of flying well > taken back to base. We used the opportunity taking home some useful (military) belongings (a.o. lots of leather mittens and 2 tent-halves in perfect condition). Meanwhile 2 Dutch visitors. Hunting season The Agricultural Ministry said yesterday that hunting season will start on August 20 and will run through February 29. The cost of hunting permits will also increase by an average of 5 percent for the 2007-2008 period, the ministry added. Islands rationing scarce water Just over a week after the government declared a state of emergency on the Cycladic Islands to solve the water crisis in the Aegean, officials have told Kathimerini that they are rationing the use of water by islanders. The head of the local authority on the small island of Folegandros, Eleftherios Venios, said that the island is being supplied with less water than it needs, forcing officials to restrict supplies to residents and visitors. “We are doing what we can so it does not affect our tourism but I do not know how long we can hold out,” he said. “They are bringing us 3,000 cubic meters of water a week but we need 5,000 cubic meters.” Many of the islands still rely on special ships delivering water to them every week. “The problem will be worse next year. We need to find a permanent solution,” said Venios. The Cyclades Islands received 24 million euros to improve water supplies earlier this year. But water tanks and desalination plants have yet to be constructed. “The island has some underground water reserves but we rely on the water tankers,” said the head of the local authority on Sikinos. “It would be good to have a desalination plant because as things stand we have to fret over whether the ship will arrive on time.” Authorities on Syros are also planning to build a desalination center as they said they would just about meet their water demands for this summer. Santorini is also suffering a lack of water, which is exacerbated by its volcanic structure, which means that rainwater mixes with seawater in underground reserves. “The problem is in the quality, not the quantity,” said Thera Mayor Angelos Roussos. Cancer worries turn off faucets The Municipality of Oinofyta, north of Athens, instructed local residents and industrial plants yesterday to stop using tap water after data published by Kathimerini showed it to contain carcinogenic substances. The latest tests on water from the Asopos River in central Greece, which supplies Oinofyta’s local water network, have shown higher-than-expected levels of depleted chromium, which is carcinogenic. Some residents have stopped drinking the water for a number of years, relying only on bottled water, and now the results of tests by the General Chemical State Laboratory have confirmed their fears. At 7.08 p.m. a phone-call from the former chief of the police in the village here (an Adjutant), who wanted to pass-by with his knocked-down doggie. Was here at 7.20 p.m. and it showed to be that he himself had knocked-down his doggie. Firstly we have asked for his drivers-license and smelled if he had used alcohol . . . . (we have meanwhile we have learned something over here . . . . !!). See further at BITCH. Almost at the same time the former inhabitant of the House-next-door, Panagiótis, came with a plastic bag, in which an injured WOODPIGEON > see over there. We used the opportunity to ask if he could use some of our pigeons. August 10th: the new Woodpigeon was still alive this morning. In the deserted house no Barn Owls could be spotted and the food was untouched as well. Release: At 8.13 a.m. we have released at the Kremásti-bridge the juvenile Hoopoe, which was discovered there July 12th (07-124). For a difference between the bird at intake and at release > see
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SEA TURTLESRhodes conservationists ask island visitors to take care in the seaConservationists on Rhodes have asked visitors to the Dodecanese island to take care not to harm sea turtles after 16 of the animals were found dead in the island’s waters this year. The Rhodes Hydrobiological Station said that six of the dead sea turtles were found in July, the highest figure recorded for a single month on the island. This has prompted fears they were killed after being struck by speedboats or jet skis. Talks to focus on dirty water Data have shown that 32 percent of deaths in the area are cancer-related, while in 1989 the figure stood at 6 percent. The issue was discussed in Parliament yesterday as Viotia-based PASOK MP Vassilis Togias described the situation as a “social crime,” calling for the area to be placed under a state of emergency. “Some 20 percent of Greece’s industrial output is concentrated in the region (of the Asopos River). Most of the industrial plants, if not all, do not have water treatment facilities and this results in the pollution of the river,” said Togias. “Despite the fact that fines are being imposed, they are so low that company owners prefer to pay them and continue to break the law,” he added. Apportioning blame to officials might be a lengthy process, since reports show the government was aware of the problem nearly 10 years ago. In a 1998 report, a parliamentary environment committee outlined the measures that would have to be taken to protect the quality of the water in the river. None of the measures have since been implemented. Nature to heal Parnitha The large swath of Mount Parnitha’s forest that was burnt in wildfires in June should be allowed at least three years to regenerate itself before authorities attempt to plant new trees, the environmentalist group WWF Greece said yesterday. More than 4,000 hectares of pine- and fir-covered land was scorched in the blaze and WWF presented a series of measures that it believes will help the national park north of Athens begin to recover. The group recommended that no new trees should be planted on a mass scale in the forest until the fall of 2010. WWF said that small zones of the charred forest could be used for test plantings if needed. The environmentalists said that this would give nature three germination periods to begin the process of healing the damage done by the fire. Authorities will have to reassess the situation in 2010 and perhaps embark upon a more widespread replanting program. WWF approved of the flood prevention work being carried out on the mountain at the moment. It involves burned trunks being cut down and bound together to act as flood barriers and is also designed to stop the soil from being swept away by heavy rain. The group proposed that the government take the opportunity to knock down all the buildings in the forest, including sports training facilities, and to remove overhead electrical and telephone cables from the area because they are fire hazards. It is thought that one of the reasons the fire spread so quickly on Mount Parnitha is that authorities wanted to avoid dropping water on electricity pylons because they feared this would cause a blackout. The cause of the fire is still not known but arson is suspected. A recent study conducted by the fire service showed that there were almost 60,000 forest fires between 2000 and 2004. Investigations were carried out into 8,380 of these blazes and statistics indicate that arsonists caused almost 20 percent of them. Almost a third of the fires were started by mistake and the cause of almost 38 percent of the blazes was unknown. At 6.05 p.m. we were phoned by a Dutch couple (who had visited us August 8th) and who wanted to take a doggie (understatement . . . . !!) with them to Holland > see further at DOG. August 11th: again no Barn Owls could be spotted in the deserted house and the food as well was untouched > case closed. The yesterday taken-in Dog hadn’t eaten and neither weed nor relieved. We started to repair the discovered military clothes and prepare them for use as working-clothes. Already we could “distil” 8 pairs of good woolen gloves. Four quite well till well lined overcoats are hanging outside now on the barbed wire > repair will be easy. In the morning 4 Dutch visitors. Arson Arrest Man caught while allegedly trying to set fire to Aigion scrubland A 29-year-old carpenter has been arrested in the northern Peloponnesian town of Aigion on suspicion of trying to set fire to scrubland. Police arrested the unnamed man late on Thursday and found containers of flammable liquid in his possession. Four wildfires were reported in Aigion on Thursday night but were quickly put out. It was not immediately clear if authorities were linking the 29-year-old to these fires. Meanwhile, authorities on the Ionian island of Cephalonia are gathering evidence to put on trial a family of livestock breeders alleged to be behind a forest fire there recently. Firefighting HelpAnother Russian helicopter on wayA third Russian helicopter was expected to arrive in Athens yesterday to help boost the country’s firefighting efforts this summer, authorities said. An Mi-26 helicopter will be added to the two Russian Mi-8 helicopters that have already arrived in Greece and have taken part in recent firefighting operations. Last month, Russia also sent a BE-200 plane after Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis asked for aid from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile the dog has relieved well (and we have known so > we could scrape the tiles . . . . !!) and weed. From the lined overcoats/parka’s one showed to be an original American Officers Field Coat from 1944; as good as 99% intact !! Around 6.30 p.m. the family, who had discovered two years ago “Gímli” for a look how their little foundling was doing. They were surprised that she had changed such a lot . . . . !! August 12th: it’s hardly possible taking-out the new dog: it’s staring hesitatingly, but after some meters there is “bucking” and it ends with dragging the dog in our arms home . . . !! And no drop was left behind !! Releases: We could release at the Early-Christian Basilica the juvenile Collared Dove (07-120’ July 3rd) and both juvenile Jays (07-121a-b; July 4th). We have transferred to the Aviary both juvenile Collared Doves (07-142a-b; July 26th) for flying practices. And while the temperature outside in the shadow was rising above the 30 degrees centigrade, we were busy repairing parka’s: closing unstitched parts, connecting together pieces of lining and so on. Damaged zippers were removed and, besides some big buttons 2 parka’s are ready for next winter . . . !! Two Dutch visitors, who are living already half a year in Polichnítos. And while we were talking, a rat was walking coolly above our heads in our vine > “air-conditioning” was given. After the siesta the 3rd coat was repaired (has no warm lining); here we had to fix two pieces into the collar. And here as well buttons must be bought and fastened. August 13th: we found a proper way to let the new dog out: a slight woman is walking in front of the dog and the 2nd of the company is following with the dog on the leash > things are going now almost without problems. We have taken him to the Agrotikí Stégi in Kallonís for micro-chipping & vaccinations. The last we have injected; the chip was placed by the “patron”. Signing and rubber-stamping we have done, which made a huge difference in expenses. At 10.08 a.m. a phone-call from the Vet Myrsíni Tourvalí, that she had a small Hedge-hog which should be bitten by a rat. She wanted to know what kind of antibiotics she should give. She will try to stabilize first and to send the injured later. Today again “meat-cutting-day” and 11,550 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat was processed (for 74,76 Euro). Total this year 385,760 kilo for 2464,15 Euro. And the “mad-house” started to begin really now: first 4 Dutch visitors and hereafter 2 Dutch visitors, who came as well to help with the meat-cutting. A phone-call from Mytiléne that the Hedge-hog should be send by coach of 11 a.m. > so we tried to pick her up, but there was a pick-up-truck who had tried to climb on a wall and which should be hoisted up first before we could pass. The hedge-hog we had in our hands at 12.04 p.m. Meanwhile 2 Polish visitors had arrived at the L.W.H., 2 Dutch visitors came and a crying Greek woman from Géra had arrived with her Budgerigar, which had vomited blood. She had already visited a Vet, who had, of course . . . . .prescribed antibiotics. See further at EASTERN HEDGE HOG and at BUDGERIGAR. After 5 p.m. 2 visitors from Toulon (France) and so we had to perform an excursion in (already long forgotten) French !! August 14th: while the adults of our crew were busy trying to persuade the Dog doing his last pee in our village, the attentive Áxel discovered in front of our house an adult EASTERN HEDGE HOG > see over there. At 7.25 a.m. a phone-call from Skála Polichnítos about a thrown-away kitten with the eyes still closed > “if we couldn’t try to suckle the poor baby ?” We had to answer negatively, and one will go to Mytiléne for euthanasia. At 7.35 a.m. we could hand-over the dog “Jásou” at the petrol-station to the owner. The bench wasn’t fitting in the taxi, and only after we had removed the wheels we were lucky: it was filling the whole rear-passengers-part of the taxi. Later in the morning one Dutch visitor. Carpenter charged with arson A magistrate remanded in custody yesterday a 30-year-old man in Aigion, northern Peloponnese, accused of multiple counts of arson after catching him near a blaze in the area last week in possession of large amounts of flammable liquid. Police said the suspect, Andreas Derdes, was found transporting in his car two large containers of flammable liquid, a lighter and four sponges. Derdes, a carpenter by trade, told investigating authorities the items were tools he used in his trade and that the flammable material was a timber varnish. He was charged with repeated counts of arson, a criminal charge. Police believe the suspect was responsible for starting four fires in the region on the day and said they caught him as he was attempting to light a fifth blaze. Meanwhile, a 16-year-old male in Antirio, central Greece, was also charged yesterday with arson. The youth confessed to six counts of setting fire to farmland in the region.
We received the message from Holland that the Dog “Jásou” has arrived without problems and feels quite well at home there. August 15th: the cat “Mispoes” (03-018; February 4th 2003) was discovered in quite a bad condition at 6 a.m. > observation and wait-and-see. This time she must have had quite a huge epileptic insult . . . . !! See further at MISPOES. The Tom-cat “Ámmos” (07-145; July 29th) with the pelvis-/backbone-injury is walking more and more ! Public Order Minister Byron Polydoras...
Public Order Minister Byron Polydoras speaks to newly sworn-in rural police officers in Athens yesterday. Polydoras said the officers will be members of an ‘ecological police force’ and drew their attention to the plane tree leaf that forms part of the new force’s badge. He told the officers one of their duties would be to monitor the use of water in rural areas. Fire warningThe General Secretariat for Civil Protection issued a high fire risk warning for today on the islands of Evia, Lesvos, Chios and Samos. Authorities called on people to take care and avoid actions that could start forest fires, such as burning of trash. Meanwhile, a fire in Akrites, in northwestern Greece, burned 10 hectares of forest and farmland yesterday. Thirteen firefighters using six fire trucks were involved in the firefighting operation along with a water-dropping helicopter and airplane. August 16th: at 5.35 a.m. the Tom-cat “BroBa” was transferred to the preparation-cage. Will offer his crown-jewels later this morning. The WOOD PIGEON (07-152; August 9th) was discovered “not alive anymore” at 5.55 a.m. At 7.10 a.m. we started with “BroBa”. After breakfast first the P.M. on the Wood Pigeon was done > see over there. And while we were busy doing so, a loud-voiced woman was at the door, roaring to us if we could “remove fish-hooks out of the mouth of a cat ?” After firstly told her quite friendly that we aren’t deaf, we could answer the question in the affirmative. See at TOM CAT. We have heard that the BUDGERIGAR is doing fine. And the knocked-down by the owner BITCH is starting to walk again. The last of the military coats is repaired meanwhile and now the buttons (with lots of troubles bought by Ineke) can be fastened. So after that the whole “crew” can await wintertime with confidence. After the siesta 2 Dutch visitors. One of them had spend last year her trainee-ship over here. They had, besides quite a huge amount in money (gathered by relatives & friends), as well lots of stitches, instruments and a real microscope with them.
We’re very grateful for all of this !! At 9.07 p.m. a phone-call from Skópelos about an injured “Geráki” (bird of prey) > will be picked-up tomorrow. August 17th: the whole morning busy with the re-arrangement and re-organization of the storage-places in the surgery: it took quite a lot of puzzling to store well-organized all the received materials. We received a phone-call from Ineke that she had the “Geráki” at 11.01 a.m. in her hands > probably a BUZZARD > see over there. Mount Pendeli fire destroys tens of homes, vehicles
Athenians returning yesterday from Wednesday’s public holiday were greeted by a thick black cloud of smoke from a fire on Mount Pendeli, northern Athens. The smoke could be seen from as far away as the Saronic islands. A wildfire that broke out on Mount Pendeli at around 10.30 a.m. yesterday burned more than 20 homes, dozens of cars and some 800 hectares of land, including recently reforested areas, forcing a state of emergency to be declared in the northern Athens suburbs of Melissia, Nea Pendeli and Kifissia. Firemen were patrolling these areas last night to prevent the possibility of a rekindling of the fire that had earlier forced the evacuation of two medical clinics. The blaze also triggered a series of power cuts, leaving many in the area without electricity for hours. At least 10 people were taken to hospital with breathing problems. The fire broke out on Mount Pendeli and soon reached the affluent suburbs of Politia, Melissia, Nea Pendeli, Vrilissia and Kifissia, extending across several kilometers. Officials attributed the fire to arsonists acting on behalf of property developers. “The facts point to arson. The fires started on a number of fronts with a large distance between them. The same thing happened about a month and a half ago but we managed to contain the flames,” Nea Pendeli Deputy Mayor Christos Feidopiastis told Kathimerini. The area has been repeatedly targeted by arsonists in the past. Yesterday's blaze destroyed many recently planted trees. More than 60 fire trucks, 19 airplanes and helicopters as well as hundreds of firefighters and volunteers were involved in the operation. Gale-force winds fanned the blaze and prevented airplanes from joining the firefighting operation earlier in the day, allowing it to get out of control, according to the fire service. “Between 11 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. the airplanes could not operate due to strong winds and thick smoke,” fire service officer Nikolaos Diamantis told a news conference. “The situation is very difficult. A number of homes have been damaged,” he added. Local officials said that about 10 homes were burnt in Nea Pendeli, and a further 15 in Melissia. About 130 patients from a nearby psychiatric facility were evacuated as were 20 from a medical clinic. A helicopter carrying water...
A helicopter carrying water flies through a thick cloud of smoke in Melissia, northern Athens, yesterday on its way to help in the effort to put out a wildfire that broke out on Mount Pendeli around 10.30 a.m. Helicopters continued to drop water on the fire last night as authorities tried to extinguish the blaze on numerous fronts. August 18th: the new Buzzard was still alive; had produced some droppings and hadn’t vomited. Bodyweight was 359 gram (+11) !! In the morning 4 Dutch visitors. At 10.52 a.m. a phone-call from the Vet-practice of Myrsíni Tourvalí, that she would send a Pigeon in bad condition with the coach of 1.15 p.m. At 1.17 p.m. a young GOLDEN PHEASANT was brought-in from Mólivos > see over there. There was a phone-call at 1.50 about a COLLARED DOVE, which should be quite bad injured > will be send by coach of 3.30 p.m. At 2.05 p.m. we picked-up from the coach a (indeed in a bad condition) PIGEON > see over there. There was a power-cut from 2.10 until 3.30 p.m.; and that in such a heat !! We picked-up the COLLARED DOVE > waiting for the bird we heard from “our” Fire-brigade-crew that there had been quite a huge blaze in the neighborhood of Mytiléne this morning. Arson suspicions grow over fire on Mount Pendeli Petros Giannakouris/AP The charred slope of Mount Pendeli is framed by the window of a burnt home in Nea Pendeli, north of Athens, yesterday. The house is one of about 50 damaged in the blaze which started on Thursday morning and was contained early yesterday. Authorities believe the fire was the work of arsonists aiming to build in the area. Meanwhile, police were questioning a man aged around 50 whom residents had spotted near Mount Pendeli where the blaze broke out on Thursday morning. According to sources, the suspect lost his son, a volunteer firefighter, during a firefighting exercise in Chalandri. According to initial estimates, Thursday’s fire ravaged up to 900 hectares of land in Nea Pendeli, Melissia, Politeia and Kifissia. More than 50 homes are believed to have been damaged. The General Secretariat for Civil Protection yesterday warned of a very high risk of fires in Attica, the Cyclades and on several other Aegean islands. August 19th: all new patients were still alive this morning (miracle ??). The Buzzard was 374 (+15) gram. We could remove again (this time only from the right side) lots of “cheese” from the sinus of the Golden Pheasant. She is breathing more quietly now. Release: We have released close to a pool with terrapins at the Kremásti-bridge the Eastern Hedge-hog, which had come-in August 14th (07-156). At 1.30 p.m. a phone-call from Nyfída from the Vet Giórgos Palaiológos that he had found over there a gigantic huge Gull or something like that, which had diarrhoea. We have asked our friend Rutger Jesse, who is living in that neighborhood, to pick-up the bird for us. He was here at 2.23 p.m. > see at YELLOW-LEGGED GULL. The juvenile Buzzard is starting to be more active !! The yesterday taken-in bone-thin Pigeon died in our hands at 5.52 p.m. No P.M. was done. August 20th: in spite of the breathing-problems the juvenile Yellow-legged Gull was still alive this morning. The Buzzard was 404 (+27) gram. The Yellow-legged Gull was discovered dead at 8 a.m. in it’s cage. When we took the Golden Pheasant in our hands for treating the right sinus, she suddenly dropped the head and was dead . !! Today was again “meat-cutting-day” and with the help of the ext-trainee and her friend (who both had gathered all the materials for us) 13,340 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat was processed (price 87,72 Euro). Total this year 399,100 kilo for 2551,87 Euro. At 4.05 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne that people at thát moment were leaving with a “gláros” or with a Gull. And they were here at 5.30 p.m. > see further at MEDITERRANEAN SHEARWATER. The bearers, 2 from Athens and 1 from Stuttgart (Germany) were showed around as well. August 21st: the Shearwater was still alive and a bit more active this morning. Bodyweight was at that moment 165 gram. The Buzzard was 424 (+23) gram. The Shearwater is easy to feed and is becoming more and more active. By the way, there seems to be something wrong with the right wing. The juvenile Buzzard is for the first time fed with “adult-food” > is eating this well. We could remove from an army-shelter, discovered on the rubbish-dump, some long pieces of material which can be used for the new shadow-places in the tortoise-pen. Two Dutch visitors this morning. Third heat wave to choke city This summer’s third heat wave is expected to grip much of Greece tomorrow when temperatures are likely to reach 42 Celsius, the National Meteorological Service (EMY) said yesterday. Meanwhile, environmentalists warned of the impact of a relentless series of forest fires on the atmosphere in the capital, which is becoming increasingly asphyxiating. “The difference in Athens’s climate is clear to anyone who has come back from holiday,” said Athens University Professor Matthaios Santamouris. “The impact has been dramatic, the climate of this city is tragic but unfortunately we will grow used to it.” Experts blame the increase in the capital’s temperatures, and high pollution counts, on the three fires that ravaged large tracts of Athens’s three forests – Parnitha, Hymettus and Pendeli – which had acted as the city’s natural air conditioners. The only way to ensure that the situation is not aggravated is to curb construction on burnt forestland, restrict the use of pollution-emitting cars and introduce more green spaces to Greece’s concrete-filled capital, they say. Pendeli blazeSuspected arsonist, 57, given until tomorrow to prepare defenseA 57-year-old man, who has been linked to a blaze that ravaged Mount Pendeli last week, was yesterday released pending his scheduled appearance before an investigating magistrate tomorrow. The man, who’s son – a firefighter – was killed earlier this year while trying to extinguish a factory blaze, has refuted charges of arson and endangering lives, claiming to have been in a cafe at the time that four simultaneous fires broke out on Pendeli. He asked the magistrate for more time to prepare his defense. Thursday the 23rd one or two stray Tom-cats from Mólivos will arrive for “de-fathering”. In spite of the present heat-wave (the 3rd of this year!!) the whole island was without electricity from 3.12 until 5.05 p.m. !! We discovered the Shearwater at 5.15 p.m. dead in its cage. August 22nd: the juvenile Collared Dove (which should have been bitten by a cat) was discovered dead in the cage at 5.55 a.m. The juvenile Buzzard was 444 (+20) gram. In spite of the heat-wave (and it wás warm on the roof; indeed, very hot !!) we managed to fix (with blind-rivets) 2 of the yesterday prepared pieces of material to the walls of the tortoise-pen. Meanwhile we are wondering if the juvenile Buzzard is indeed a BUZZARD: the complete structure is too slight and the nostrils haven’t the same shape like a “normal” Buzzard has. Our thoughts are going now in the direction of a BLACK KITE (Milvus migrans) > we have meanwhile contacted Holland to know exactly what etc. August 23rd: we must take pictures from every side of the “pseudo-Buzzard” and take measurements as well; a juvenile Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) could as well be considered. In any case the bird was this morning 472 (+28) gram and that’s still for every of the three mentioned species not enough. At 7.30 a.m. the first of the announced Tom-cats arrived, followed 20 minutes later by the 2nd. See at TOM-CAT. At 9.20 a.m. a phone-call from Ándissa about a “little geráki” (small bird of prey), which should be injured > we went for a ride and picked it up. See at KESTREL. And in spite of the 2 surgeries and the 2 hours lasting rescue-operation for the Kestrel, we were able to fasten 1 piece of material to the tortoise-pen !! Pollution grips Athens as heat wave arrives
An Athenian relaxes on a bench in the southern coastal suburb of Faliron yesterday in an attempt to find respite from a heat wave that reached the city. The temperature in Athens is expected to reach around 40 Celsius again today but will probably drop by three or four degrees tomorrow, weather forecasters said. The temperature reached 40 Celsius in Athens yesterday, making it one of the hottest days of the summer. Meteorologists said yesterday that it was the first time that three heat waves had been recorded in a single summer. “High temperatures, intense sunlight and the lack of wind are ideal conditions for the development of ozone,” said Ziomas. Experts warned that another bout of hot weather in September, when most Athenians have returned from their vacations, could have serious consequences. “Something needs to be done,” said Ziomas. “There is a huge problem with old cars; they account for only 30 percent of vehicles on the road but are responsible for about 60 percent of the pollution.” Specialist vet flown in for bear cub hit by car Animal rights activists have enlisted the services of a specialist veterinarian from Britain to nurse back to health an 18-month-old bear cub injured in a car accident in northern Greece. The cub was run over on the Egnatia Highway, near Kozani, according to officials at the Arcturos bear protection group who said the animal had probably been trying to cross the road to forage for food in nearby forestland. The cub, which suffered leg injuries and was said to be in shock, is to be anesthetized and treated by the unnamed British doctor at the Arcturos bear sanctuary in Florina before being released into the wild. A spate of forest fires over the summer may have contributed to the scattering of Greece's brown bear population across the country, according to biologist Dimitris Bousbouras. Pendeli fire suspect held A 57-year-old man, who has been linked to a blaze that ravaged Mount Pendeli last week, was yesterday remanded in custody after testifying before an investigating magistrate. The unnamed man claimed that he was at a cafeteria last Thursday morning when the four fires appeared, virtually simultaneously, on the mountain’s slopes. His alibi has been backed by several witnesses but other witnesses claimed to have seen him near the site of the fire. Last night firefighters were struggling to contain a blaze that broke out in Albania and crossed the border into Kastoria. Ground forces were aided by two water-dropping aircraft and a helicopter. Several other fires broke out across the country yesterday, fueled by rising temperatures, and burnt tracts of forest and farmland. No damage to homes was reported. Blazes that broke out in Argolida, Arcadia and Evia were under partial control by late yesterday. A fire in Messinia approached two villages but was curbed by late yesterday. At 1.56 p.m. a phone-call about an injured “geráki” (medium-seize bird of prey) which should be somewhere in the fields between Íppio and Keramiá. So we went for a ride and indeed in the midst of olive-trees (even the car couldn’t drive there anymore) we picked-up in the heat a shot BUZZARD. See further over there. In the evening we received per e-mail the conclusion of 2 experts in Holland, that our doubts about the “pseudo-buzzard” had been justifiable: “ a juvenile Honey Buzzard, dark phase, most probably a male”. So we have to re-write what already was written here below. By the way, the strange nostrils had been decisive for the determination. August 24th: the new Kestrel was 157 gram (at intake 152) and the new Buzzard 836 (at intake 800, but there is some weight of the splints included in this). The “re-baptized buzzard” or Honey Buzzard was 478 (+6) gram. We could continue with the walls of the tortoise-pen till all drills were broken . . . !! Fire threatens Mandra homesFirefighters were last night able to bring under partial control a wildfire that broke out near homes in Mandra, west of Athens, before any properties or lives were put at risk. The fire began at about 4.30 p.m., prompting the arrival of some 100 firefighters and nine aircraft to help put out the blaze, which burned pine trees in the area. Fires also raged in the Peloponnese yesterday, with blazes reported in the areas of Messinia, Arcadia, Laconia and on the slopes of Mount Taygettus. Fires continued to burn for a second day in Ioannina and Kastoria. We picked-up our new trainee Rixt from the airport; almost home she had to see a strange kind of Greek “hospitality” after the, returned from the U.S. A. , retired village G.P. refused to give right of way and hereafter tried to drag her driver out of the car at his beard > “he refused to accept that a FOREIGNER told him that even in Greece traffic coming from the right has right of way” > we have notified the police about what had happened. August 25th: the Buzzard had last night vomited all the given food; body-weight was 817 (-19) gram. The Kestrel was 175 (+18) gram and the Honey Buzzard was 504 (+26) gram. The Buzzard was discovered not alive anymore at 7.50 a.m.; for the P.M. see at BUZZARD. Even before breakfast we could continue working at the tortoise-pen. Hereafter 4 visitors from Sankt Andrä (Lower Austria). Almost at the same time 3 Dutch visitors. And while we were busy with all those people, a Greek family came with their Athenian Rabbit > see at RABBIT. Sixteen dead in worst day of forest fires YIOTA KORBAKI/ANA Residents of Zacharo, in the western Peloponnese, flee from the advancing flames of a massive fire that caused at least 10 deaths in the area yesterday. Some 200 fires were reported to have broken out across the country yesterday. At least 16 people were reported to have died by last night as huge forest fires, fanned by gale-force winds, raged out of control in the Peloponnese and other parts of the country, burning thousands of hectares of land and destroying homes. It was the single most fatal day in a summer marked by thousands of forest fires that have now claimed 27 lives. The worst fire was in the area of Zacharo, in the western Peloponnese, where 10 deaths were reported. Another six people, including two French tourists, were found dead near a hotel in Areopolis on the Mani peninsula where a fierce blaze burnt large tracts of land. A firefighter also died of a heart attack after inhaling fumes during attempts to extinguish the blaze. Local houses suffered limited damage chiefly because most are built of stone. A state of emergency was declared in Laconia and Messinia where several blazes were under way, the worst on the slopes of Mount Taygetos, one of the most inaccessible parts of the country. “If the winds don't abate, so that firefighting aircraft can start flying, then the destruction will be massive,” Messinia Prefect Dimitris Drakos said. Public Order Minister Byron Polydoras said the government was using all its resources to control the fires. “The firefighting effort is covering a broad front - all ground forces are engaged and we are trying our best to get helicopters to the sites too,” he said. Some 200 fires were reported across the country yesterday. Apart from the Peloponnese, the most serious were in Kastoria, Ioannina, Arta and Attica. A fire that broke out near the oil refinery in Elefsina was extinguished before it could approach fuel tanks. “The situation is truly dramatic, every minute another fire is breaking out somewhere,” senior fire service officer Nikos Diamantis said yesterday afternoon. And from 12 o’clock the whole ADSL in Greece is “flat” again (just like it was in July); so the message above is the last for the time being we were able to receive. August 26th: at 5 a.m. we had (a little) connection with the world outside us again, but even that wasn’t possible anymore at 8 a.m. At 5.53 a.m. there was a power-cut again on the whole island and that lasted till 7.45 a.m. Till now on we don’t notice over here a lot about the State of Emergency in the whole of Greece. The Kestrel was 188 (+13) gram and the Honey Buzzard was 524 (+20) gram. At 10.40 a.m. we received a phone-call from Plomári that one had discovered over there a Quail, not able to stand (any more ?) on its legs > had been fed with alcoholic seeds for the game ?? Will be brought-in in the afternoon. At 11.50 a.m. the first shadow-corner in the tortoise-pen was ready. Meanwhile we are able to visit the Internet, but our mail-server isn’t reachable !! ”Something” was damaged during the last power-cut !! So no incoming mails, but as well no outgoing mails for the time being !! In the evening we could make contact with the discoverers of the Quail: had been impossible to bring the bird today > maybe tomorrow (??). Meanwhile we know the bird is eating well and is quite vivacious, only the legs . . . . ?? August 27th: the Kestrel was 196 (+8) gram and the Honey Buzzard 535 (+11) gram. Release: We have released well the juvenile House Sparrow (07-104(, which was rescued June 20th out of the mouth of our outdoor-cat “Foúrno”. At 9.36 a.m. a phone-call from Mólivos from one of the reps over there, that a small “geráki” was in her possession now > we’re going this afternoon to pick it up at the petrol-station. With the little Tom-cat “VanNelle” (07-076; May 23rd ’07) we went to Kalloní for a micro=chip > this time we our self gave the chip and prepared & rubber-stamped all the paper-work. Today was meat-cutting-day again and together 15,344 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (101,89 Euro) was processed. Total this year 414,444 kilo for 2653,76 Euro. At 10.39 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a Pigeon with a broken leg (??) > they wanted to bring the bird themselves. For the first time since months some drops of rain were falling; only not enough to bring some refreshment !! The announced Pigeon was here at 12.50 p.m. > both bearers were showed around as well. Death toll rises above 60 as Greece goes up in flames
Smoke is seen behind burned trees near the town of Zacharo in the southern Peloponnese as the sun rises on Saturday morning. The area around Zacharo was one of the worst hit by wildfires since Friday. A resident of Styra, in southern Evia, takes part in efforts to put out a wildfire
in the area. A woman holds her head as relatives of missing people search
for the remains of loved ones in burned vehicles in the village of Artemida
near Zacharo in the Peloponnese.
It was feared that the death toll would rise as rescue services yesterday were unable to access several villages that were surrounded by flames. Dozens of people were reported to be trapped in villages in the western Peloponnese, Corinth, Evia and other areas. Super Puma rescue helicopters airlifted elderly citizens and children from the worst-hit villages, including in the area of Zacharo, where some 37 people have died. One of the most heartrending discoveries for rescue workers in the area was that of the charred body of a mother hugging her four children. The bodies of several villagers were found in the wreckage of a collision between a firefighting truck and a convoy of cars that had apparently been trying to flee the blaze. Many villagers yesterday used hoses and buckets in a vain effort to douse raging flames threatening their homes as they waited for fire service support to arrive by air and land. In several cases, fire support arrived too late, villagers claimed. Water-dropping aircraft from 11 countries, pledged on Saturday, assisted efforts by the Greek fire service and army to extinguish the widespread blazes yesterday. Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis yesterday expressed her thanks for some 31 aircraft pledged by EU nations, Israel and the USA. Winds had abated from the gale force strengths they had reached on Saturday but were erratic. A blaze that broke out in Ancient Olympia burnt forestland around the archaeological site but did not harm the museum or artifacts, the Culture Ministry said. Villages near the ancient site were still burning late yesterday. A blaze that broke out on the slopes of Mount Hymettus, northeastern Athens, on Saturday morning, burning at least one home, was contained before it could cause further damage. Municipal officials claimed to have discovered gas canisters and rags soaked in petrol near the site of the blaze and locals said they heard explosions prior to the fire. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis declared a national state of emergency on Saturday. “Our country is experiencing an indescribable tragedy,” he said in a televised address. Karamanlis made it clear that his government believes the unusually high number of fires was evidence of plans by arsonists to create mayhem. “I’m in rage,” said the premier. “So many fires at the same time in so many parts of the country, this cannot be a coincidence.” The government yesterday put out a bounty of between 100,000 to 1 million euros for information leading to the arrest of each alleged arsonist. A 65-year-old man was arrested in Oitylos, Evia, on suspicion of arson and multiple murders. A 76-year-old woman was taken into custody for causing a fire in Zacharo through negligence. Four people were arrested on a building site in Mesorachi, Evia, for alleged arson through negligence. Dozens of other people have been detained for questioning in various parts of Greece. At 2.55 p.m. a phone-call from Agiássos that people over there had an “Aetós” (Eagle), which wasn’t able to fly. After a quick contact with the woman from Mólivos, who should bring the bird to the petrol-station, decided that we first should go to Agiássos and afterwards pick-up the bird at the petrol-station. Over there at 4.09 p.m. we picked-up a juvenile HONEY BUZZARD > see over there. At the petrol-station we picked-up a juvenile male HOBBY > see over there. And at 6.05 p.m. the announced “Quail” was here > see at CORN CRAKE. August 28th: all were still alive this morning. The Corn Crake was 87 (+4) gram, the Kestrel 203 (+7) and the Hobby 242 (+8) gram, but some splint-weight is included herein. Honey Buzzard I was 539 (+4) and Honey Buzzard II was 428 (+11) gram. We came quite far with the creating of the shadow-places in the tortoise-pen > if everything is going according plans, the inhabitants are going back tomorrow. At 12 p.m. a small Kitten was brought-in by the village-youth > see at KITTEN. At 1.45 p.m. both new trainees arrived over here: Daniëlle and Cherina from Holland. After the siesta 5 Dutch visitors. August 29th: all patients were still alive this morning. The Corn Crake had diminished with 2 gram (=85) and the Kestrel as well (=201). The Hobby was 245 (+3) gram; Honey Buzzard I was 545 (+6) and Honey Buzzard II was 470 (+42) gram. At 10.08 a.m. a juvenile BLUE TIT, bitten by a cat, was brought-in > see over there. And at 10.20 a.m. all 22 Tortoises ( 18 Spurr-tighed-, 1 Mediterranean- and 3 Marginated -) were back again in their renewed pen. The wing of the Hobby isn’t smelling well . . . . !! The injury at the elbow of the Kestrel is closing, but a release isn’t certain at all > the damage is too huge. In the morning 2 Dutch visitors. Battle against fires turning as extent of devastation is revealed
At least 64 people have died since Friday in Greece’s worst fires in living memory. Some 180,000 hectares of land are believed to have been razed along with countless homes. Foreign firefighters yesterday boosted efforts to extinguish blazes in the Peloponnese and Evia, raising hopes that the worst fires ravaging the country could be brought under control before further destruction could be wreaked. Meanwhile, as the death toll from the blazes rose to 64, authorities confirmed that more than 180,000 hectares of land have been razed by fire. The presence of water-dropping craft was virtually doubled yesterday as planes from several countries took to the air. In Brussels, European Union officials said they were considering the formation of permanent multinational reaction units to respond to natural disasters such as Greece's unprecedented spate of fires. Yesterday's firefighting efforts were mostly concentrated on the Peloponnese and Evia where fires burnt for a fifth day. A total of 56 new fires broke out within 13 hours but most were curbed before they could spread. A blaze in Grammatiko, eastern Attica, which had caused the most concern, was under control late yesterday. «This picture gives us some optimism,» fire service spokesman Nikos Diamandis said. Meanwhile, in villages where fires had finally been extinguished, residents were struggling to return to some semblance of normality. In central Evia, hit by one of the fiercest blazes of the past few days, villagers were without electricity or running water for a fourth day. «Municipal teams are distributing bottled water and filling tanks in homes,» the mayor of Taminaia, Katerina Karapa, said. «We have to wait another five years before we can gather olives again,» the deputy mayor of Zacharo, Spyros Bilionis, told Kathimerini. Zacharo, where at least half of the victims died, has also seen its agricultural tracts ravaged along with some 30 homes. In Laconia, where fires were still burning yesterday, authorities were positive, despite the devastation. «We will fight - and with the help of the state - we will support our farmers and rebuild the area,» Therapna Mayor Yiannis Rallis said. The prime minister also visited Elefsina airport last night to thank the Greek and foreign crews of firefighting airplanes that have been flying missions since Friday to help put out the fires. Quakes hit prefectures already razed by fire Three moderate quakes shook central and northern Greece yesterday, two hitting the fire-ravaged prefectures of Ileia and Evia, but there were no reports of related injuries or damage. The first earthquake, which struck the area of Avlida in the Gulf of Evia at 7.30 a.m., was also felt in parts of Attica and Chalkida. The second earthquake, a 4.8-magnitude tremor, occurred shortly after noon, east of Pirgos in Ileia prefecture. It caused concern, as it lasted for several seconds. Finally a 5-Richter quake occurred southeast of Alexandroupolis just before 4 p.m. Seismologists were reassuring, describing the tremors as “neither significant nor unusual.” “We are all more sensitive due to the fires,” said Ioannis Kalogeras of Athens’s Geodynamic Institute. Hunting suspendedThe Confederation of Greek Hunters issued a statement yesterday requesting that people stop hunting as wildfires continue to ravage the country. In the afternoon it showed te be that the Corn Crake had vomited but as wall had diarrhoea > so the prognosis is . . . . ?? At 9 p.m. a knocked-down KITTEN was brought-in by some village-youth > see over there. August 30th: no “eternal sleepers” were discovered this morning. The Corn Crake was 96 (+11) gram and had no diarrhoea anymore. The Kestrel was 208 (+7) gram and the Hobby 267 (+22) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 537 (-8) and II was 469 (-1) gram. With the 3 trainees we made a “cultural excursion” to the local rubbish-dump and we came back with some pieces of tents, but as well with thrown-away military clothes. The Corn Crake is slowly fading away . . . . !! Fires singe popularity of main parties Flames lick at a tree in the forest of Kallithea, in the Peloponnese, yesterday. A mother of seven children who lost their home and cattle during the fire that ravaged the village of Livadaki, in Corinth prefecture, washes her son’s face. The family lives in a tent in the yard of their burnt home. Some 10,000 people crammed into Syntagma Square last night to protest the state’s inability to avert the worst disaster to befall the country since World War II. As forest fires ravaging the Peloponnese and Evia showed signs of abating yesterday, a poll indicated that the blazes could have a lasting effect on the country's political scene. The government yesterday tried to highlight the help being offered to people affected by the fires as it believes this could pay off in the elections. Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said that 24 million euros in aid was handed out yesterday to 7,496 people who benefited from the simplified process that has been put in place for this disaster. Villagers in the Peloponnese lined up outside banks from early morning to get their emergency aid payment of 3,000 euros, which was payable upon the submission of a solemn declaration. Some 38 million euros have been deposited in a special fund set up for disaster relief and almost 63,000 people had called the 1555 hotline that has been set up for donations. Farmers will begin receiving tomorrow an advance on the aid that has been set aside to cover the loss of their livelihoods. The government has earmarked 300 million euros for the payments. After six days of struggling with raging infernos, firefighters contained most of the fires still burning in parts of the Ileia and Evia prefectures, although they rem |
