The population of flamingos wintering in Cyprus has reached an all-time low, especially in the salt marshes of Akrotiri.

According to a joint press release from BirdLife Cyprus and the Hunting and Fauna Service, the latest monitoring data from waterfowl raises serious concerns about the future of Cyprus wetlands.

For the first time since 1992, when systematic observations began, in January 2025, only 30 flamingos were recorded in the salt marshes of Akrotiri. This figure is even lower than the number recorded during the severe drought of 2008. In recent years, 100-250 individuals have been observed in this reservoir, whereas in previous decades their number reached 2000-5000, and in particularly favorable years — 8,000-13,000.

“The dramatic decline in the flamingo population is an alarming signal of the degradation of wetlands,” said Nikos Kassinis, a senior officer at the Hunting and Fauna Service. “Traditionally, the presence of water in Lake Akrotiri meant the presence of flamingos. However, now this relationship has been disrupted,” he said.

Possible causes of the recession

Experts believe that several factors influence the reduction in the number of wintering flamingos.:

Changes in the catchment system that worsen the quality and quantity of water entering reservoirs.
Reducing the level of zooplankton, which is the main food source for flamingos.
Ecological changes in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
The consequences of climate change.
Urgent measures are needed

BirdLife Cyprus calls on the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus and the British military bases to immediately take measures to investigate the causes of the sharp decline in bird numbers. Among the top priorities:

Analysis of the sources of abnormal water inflow into salt lake Akrotiri.
Elimination of possible spot contamination.
Ensuring good water quality in the long term.
Development of a strategy for the conservation of water areas according to The Ramsar Convention, or the Convention on Wetlands.

The situation requires coordinated actions to prevent further destruction of the ecosystem and preserve one of the key nature reserves of Cyprus.

A source: alphanews.live

https://cyprusbutterfly.com.cy/news/populyacziya-flamingo-kipre-dostigla-istoricheskogo