RABBIT BOOM THREATENS ARMENIAN CHURCH

Daily Sabah, Turkey
April 6 2015

IHLAS NEWS AGENCY

Akdamar Island in eastern Turkey’s Lake Van is under threat of a
boom in the rabbit population. A significant rise in the number of
rabbits poses a danger to the eponymous church, the sole structure
on the small island.

Turkish authorities have resorted to setting up traps to capture them
alive to curb the population rise which is damaging both vegetation
and the walls of the church.

Rabbits, dropped on the unpopulated island years ago, quickly
propogated. A delegation of academics, environmental activists
and animal activists, as well as local officials have examined the
situation and prepared a report, citing that the boom is a risk for
the island. The report also points out the need to diversify the local
almond tree population and reparation of fences to prevent human
access to local birds’ breeding grounds to protect the environment
on the island.

“We decided to decrease the number of rabbits and bring balance to the
ecosystem. It will be through mechanical means, by setting up traps.

It is difficult to tackle such a rise and we expect that our efforts
will continue throughout summer,” Associate Professor Lokman Aslan
from Van’s Yuzuncu Yıl University, who was a member of the delegation,
said.

Akdamar is home to Church of the Holy Cross, a 10th century Armenian
church, which was reopened after restoration in 2007. It hosts an
annual mass every year with participation of the Armenian Orthodox
community of Turkey and Orthodox Armenians from other countries.

The church is a popular destination for Turkish and foreign tourists
especially in the summer. Local authorities recently announced that
the work has begun to improve landscaping of the island and a new
pier was constructed on the island.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress