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- Ελληνικά
The Game and Wildlife Service wishes to inform about the findings that have resulted from the recent releases of rabbits from farms, since in recent years, the opinion that an important factor in the increase of the rabbit population is the release of farmed rabbits from farms has been cultivated and established among hunters.
Because of this view, several hunting clubs have invested both money and a great deal of volunteer labor to establish and operate hare farms.
As part of our ongoing monitoring of all wildlife species, our Service has developed a program to monitor hares released into the wild while being born in a hatchery.
The purpose of the above research project is to study, in particular, the survival rate, adaptation as well as the contribution to hunting harvest of the above rabbits bred in hatcheries and subsequently released into the wild.
Specifically, GPS/GSM satellite tracking devices were placed on 18 hares captured from hatcheries and released into the wild, as well as on one hare that remained in a hatchery for comparison purposes (control), to see whether the device can influence the survival of the hare. All relevant results are shown below. On 13/10/2023, three (3) hares were captured from a breeding farm in Akurso where they were released in a restricted hunting area in Akamas. These hares, during the first week after their release, showed large movements (2-3 km) and then settled in an area, which was different for each of them. Subsequently, their movements were restricted to an area of about 0.5 square kilometres, where it is estimated that they established their home range
During the hunting season all three hares were hunted by hunters, who informed us of this and provided us with the monitoring devices.
| Date of release | Hatchery | Release area | Date of death | Cause Death | Number of days of survival |
| 13/10/2023 | Akursu | Akamas | 08/11/2023 | Hunting | Hunting |
[/TD] [TD]
26
[/TD][TR] [TD]
13/10/2023
[/TD] [TD]Akursu
[/TD] [TD]Akamas
[/TD] [/TD] [TD]29/11/2023
[/TD] [TD]Hunting
[/TD] [TD]47
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]13/10/2023
[/TD] [/TD] [TD]Akoursu
[/TD] [TD]Akamas
[/TD] [TD]13/12/2023
[/TD] [TD]Kyneigi
[/TD] [TD]61
[/TD] [/TR]
The above results were encouraging, but although the sample was small, there was concern about overfishing.
2. On 24/03/2024, 30 hares were captured and released from a hatchery in Frenaros, where 9 of them were fitted with satellite tracking devices. Eight of the above-mentioned hares died within four days from the date of their release, while for the last one, on 19/04/2024, the device stopped transmitting information, which at first sight suggests human intervention and destruction of the device.
| Release date | Hatchery | Release area | Date of death | Cause of death | [TD] Cause of death |
[/TD] [TD]
Number of days of survival
[/TD] [/TD][TR] [TD]
24/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Frenarius
[/TD] [TD] [TD]Salamiou (Paphos)
[/TD] [/TD] [TD]25/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Unknown
[/TD] [TD]1
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]24/3/2024
[/TD] [/TD] [TD]Frenarous
[/TD] [TD]Episkopi (Paphos)
[/TD] [TD]25/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Unknown
[/TD] [TD]Unknown[/TD] [/TD] [TD]
1
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]24/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Frenarius
[/TD] [TD]Alassa (Limassol)
[/TD] [/TD] [TD]25/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Unknown
[/TD] [TD]1
[/TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]24/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Frenarous
[/TD] [TD]Frenarous[/TD] [/TD] [TD]
Ayios Epifaneio (Nicosia)
[/TD] [TD]26/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Unknown
[/TD] [TD]2
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]24/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Frenarous
[/TD] [TD]Argaka (Paphos)
[/TD] [TD]26/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]26/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Unknown
[/TD] [TD]2
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]24/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Frenarous
[/TD] [TD] [TD]Pissouri (Limassol)
[/TD] [/TD] [TD]27/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Possible predation by fox or dog
[/TD] [TD]3
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]24/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Frenarius
[/TD] [TD]Alona (Nicosia)
[/TD] [TD]Alona (Nicosia)[/TD] [/TD] [TD]
27/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Possible fox predation
[/TD] [TD]3
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]24/3/2024
[/TD] [/TD] [TD]Frenarous
[/TD] [TD]Zoopigi (Limassol)
[/TD] [TD]28/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Possible abduction by fox
[/TD] [/TD] [TD]4
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]24/3/2024
[/TD] [TD]Frenarius
[/TD] [TD]Alhambra
[/TD] [/TD] [TD]20/4/2024
[/TD] [TD]Possibly poaching at night or by dog training.
[/TD] [TD]27
[/TD] [/TD] [/TR]
The hare, released in Alhambra, did not move much and seems to have been confined to an area of less than 0.5 sq km, approximately, where it is estimated to have established its home range.
The low survival of the eight hares raises many concerns, including:
- Whether this is due to a change in diet due to the different composition of the vegetation and the long distance from the capture site compared to the release site.
- If this is due to the large difference in climatic conditions from the capture site, compared to the release site.
3. On 03/04/2024, 5 rabbits were captured and released from a hatchery in Stavrovouni, where 4 of them were fitted with satellite monitoring devices.
| Date of release | Hatchery | Area of release | Date of death | Cause of death | Number of days of survival |
| 3/4/2023 | Crossroads | Pelendri (Limassol) | 6/4/2024 | Unknown | 3 |
| [TR] [TD] 3/4/2023 | Stavrovouni | Pelendri (Limassol) | 6/4/2024 | [TD] Unknown | 3 |
| 3/4/2023 | Stavrovouni | Pelendri (Limassol) | 13/4/2024 | Unknown | 10 |
| 3/4/2023 | Stavrovouni | Pelendri (Limassol) | Lives to date (4/26/2024). |
The hare, which is still alive, made movements and then seems to have restricted its movements to an area of less than 0.1 square kilometre, approximately, where it is estimated to have established its home range. Unfortunately, its home range is crossed by a busy paved road.
4. On 15/04/2024, 2 hares were captured and released from a hatchery in Stavrovouni, on which satellite monitoring devices were installed.
| Date of release | Hatchery | Release area | Date Death | Cause of death | Number of days of survival |
| 15/4/2024 | Stavrovouni | Saint Konstantinos (Limassol) | 17/4/2024 | Possible predation by fox | 2 |
| 15/4/2024 | Stavrovouni | Stavrovouni |
[/TD] [TD]
Agios Konstantinos (Limassol)
[/TD] [TD]19/4/2024
[/TD] [TD]Possible predation by a fox
[/TD] [TD]4
[/TD]
5. The hare that remained in a hatchery for comparison (control) purposes, to see if the device can affect the viability of the hare, continues to live
6. In all cases where the devices emitted indications of death, members of the Service immediately went to the area to locate the hare, pick up the device, record all findings and take photographs. In none of the above cases was the entire body of the hare found but only remains.
The main results of the programme so far are summarised in the fact that the mortality rate of hares, before the end of one month from the date of release, is estimated at 83.3% while only one hare, out of the released hares, is still alive.
All the above should be of concern to all concerned.
(EAT/MS)
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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