Conclusions of the Workshop
"Network of rare livestock breeds in Greece"
Agrinion, May 18 - 20th 2006
Networking
Aim of the workshop was networking of the private sector of in-situ livestock
conservation work in Greece. 25 participants, which are active either in organisations
for conservation of one kind of breed (like Faethon, Skyros or Trojan Horse),
or are in other private engagement, constituted a national NGO named AMALTHEIA;
Emblem of the new NGO will be the horns of Ulokeratiki goat. Statutes were verified.
A temporary administration committee signed the protocol of formation. The legal
acceptance by the court is estimated in about 4-5 months.
Herdbooks
Only some few herdbooks for registered rare breeds are existing. There
is a big need for establishing herdbooks and breeders associations.
Horses:
- Skyros horse: Breeding starts from zero on. Since 1999 a herdbook
is existing on Sykros Island. On the mainland are illegal specimen taken from
the island. DNA investigations will take place (at the moment total 104 horses;
54 will be investigated). Many problems will be solved with a legal studbook
- Thessalian Horse: establishing of a breeder
association is urgent necessary.
Monitoring:
There is still a big need for Monitoring:
Buffalo: There is no need for action at the moment. But the situation
needs to be observed especially after ending of the running LIFE project.
Horses:
- Rhodes Horse: increase of the population; Monitoring on Rhodes and
on Lipsi island for other specimen (there was a rumour, that somebody else
has animals)
- Andravida Horse: There is still a need for monitoring of ponies
- Free grazing horses in Igoumenitsa: The ecosystem of feral horses
in the (Rhodopi) mountains and their antagonism with the breeder should be
investigated. A project should be formulated between nature protection and
AMALTHEIA
- Thraki horse: Not known at the moment. Hans Jerrentrup will check
the area and give information about the existing of the Thraki horse or not.
Donkey:
- At the moment no concrete project is running. Idea is it to find as many
animals as possible to make measurements. Some blood samples of different
types will be taken at different places.
Cattle:
- Sykia: Search tours are going on.
- Prespa: Hape Grunenfelder searches for Prespa cattle in Greece and
in Albania
- Pomak cattle: Hans Jerrentrup will have an eye on it
- Kea: It is still not sure, if it is really extinct.. On Paros Island,
a breed exists, that is called "Kea" by the farmers.
- Tinos / Sifnos: situation is not clear yet
- Black cattle: P. Turner saw a small cattle type with largish horns
(Balusha). Information will be given to the group and search will follow
Sheep:
- Thraki: is under observation
Goats:
- Internet and literature research brought about 27 types, names, varieties.
SAVE will prepare an atlas of the different types. Also other pictures will
be published in the internet with special access for verification. Participants
and experts will be invited to have a look at this atlas and verify information.
Projects, rescue actions and activities
In General:
- at the Athens workshop the term "feral" horses and cattle were
used. Many of the animals seems to be "free grazing", what means,
that they have an owner somewhere and are not real feral. To be on the save
side, the term "free grazing". Will be used instead of the term
"feral".
Horses:
- Andravida horse: The experts on Andravida horse will be invited for
participation
Donkey:
- On Skyros Island a free grazing Donkey population is in competition with
Skyros horses. D. Dimos will take the donkeys (which seem to have no owner)
and place them on his farm.
Sheep:
- Ikaria:32 sheep (incl. 2 rams) under observation. Offspring shall
be replaced. S.Makaritis will go to Ikaria end of June.
- Argos sheep: One herd (100 - 120 heads) is in S-Peloponnisos. S.
Makaritis gets Argos sheep. One ram he has already. S. Steen is also able
to take some Argos sheep.
- Ulokeratiki: rescue measures have been taken. A third farmer will
keep another group. Herdbook and exchange of animals between the breeders
should be established
Poultry:
- There is no proposal at the moment, how to go on. Some single information
is existing. E. Papadopoulos has some capacity to keep poultry.
Pigs:
- There seems to be existing different types of pigs. Situation is the same
as stated in Athens in 2005.
Dogs:
- Three more old breeds could be found by the Kenel Club. A few animals of
a mountain type dog with different lines, a white Greek sheepdog could be
recognised. A small housedog (Kokoni) was also recognised. A Skyros local
dog (Kordolouri) is under control. It is a working dog controlling goats.
Ongoing ideas
To promote rare breeds and AMALTHEIA an exhibition of rare breeds and a workshop
for breeders should take place end of January 2007. AMALTHEIA can go public
with this event. SAVE will search for funds to contribute to transportation
expenses.
