Among the characteristic images of the recent devastating fire in Rhodes were the wild deer – a trademark of the island – which approached the yards of the burnt houses for some food and water.

Due to the great environmental disaster on the island, the Panhellenic Philanthropic and Environmental Federation requests with its letters the ban on deer hunting in Rhodes and in response to the decision of the local authorities to demarcate the platoons with electric fences.

In a letter to the prime minister and the government, which it also shared on Facebook, the Federation states: “DO NOT LEAVE ANIMALS TO THE MERCY OF HUNTERS
A few days ago we sent you a letter asking not to allow the hunting of the animals that were left after the fires in Rhodes.
YOU UNFORTUNATELY IGNORED THE CALLS OF ANIMAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.
Shortly after we learned that the Forestry of Rhodes had given permission to hunt on the burnt island.
It was preceded by a circular from the Ministry of the Interior to the country’s forestry services to issue hunting licenses before the Hunting Regulatory Decision that is issued every year.
The paradox is the following: Hunting is prohibited in the burned areas – where there are very few animals because they cannot be fed – but it is allowed in the nearby areas that have taken refuge as many animals as are saved from the fires.”

There was a previous post about the authorities’ decision to demarcate the platoons with electric fences.

“It is not possible to herd a wild species and even in a limited space that is not sufficient… Deer are part of the natural wealth and the historical and cultural heritage of the island of Rhodes” notes the federation.