Tunisia signs up to protect raptors

Tunisia engages in raptor conservation under the Convention on Migratory Species

June 2013. Tunisia has signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MOU). The Raptors MOU operates under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), and is supported by a Secretariat, funded and hosted by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi on behalf of the Government of the United Arab Emirates since 2009.

Major avian flyway

Tunisia is located along one of the major avian flyways in North Africa. More than 250 species of migratory birds have been recorded in the country, including 30 different birds of prey listed in the CMS Raptors MOU. Two of these, the Saker Falcon and the Egyptian Vulture, are classified as endangered species.

Cap Bon

Cap Bon is a spectacular peninsula in the northeast of the country that is an internationally recognized bottleneck for migratory raptors. Tens of thousands of these birds pass over the area every year, particularly in Springtime on their journeys to breeding areas further North, primarily in Europe. Large flocks of Black Kites, Honey Buzzards, Red-footed Falcons make the sea crossing to Sicily. 

The signing ceremony took place immediately after the opening of the CMS Technical Workshop on Minimising Poisoning of Migratory Birds, which was held last week in Tunis.

The Raptors MOU was signed by Dr Khaled Zahzah, Assistant Director of Hunting and National Parks at the Head Office of Forests, on behalf of the Government of Tunisia. Tunisia is the 43rd Signatory to the Raptors MOU. 

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