Cyprus released griffon vultures into the wild on Wednesday in the latest attempt to boost a once thriving population now critically endangered by poisoning. The island's largest bird of prey has seen its population fall dramatically to the smallest in Europe in recent decades, either from accidental poisoning or changing farming techniques leaving them short of food. A griffon vulture is seen in an acclimatisation aviary near the village of Korfi, Cyprus September 28, 2022. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou Earlier this year, the population suffered a massive loss from poisoning, reducing numbers to just 8, conservationists say. They will be joined by eight vultures from Spain, home to Europe's largest population of griffon vultures, which were released on Wednesday in the mountains...
Read MoreCategory: साइप्रस
travelogues, travel articles and news from around and about Cyprus
Cyprus has opened its first underwater archaeological park, offering visitors a glimpse of history at one of the eastern Mediterranean's best preserved ancient harbours. A visitor looks at the ruins as he swims at the underwater archaeological park of the ancient port of Amathus in Limassol. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou A general view of the underwater archaeological park of the ancient port of Amathus in Limassol, Cyprus. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou The now-submerged harbour lying off the ancient city-kingdom of Amathus was constructed between 312/311 B.C. and 294 B.C., when Cyprus was the focus of conflict between two successors of Alexander the Great. It was probably constructed as a naval base because of its narrow entrance, though experts say its combined commercial use canno...
Read MoreArchimandrite Agathonikos bows before the silver-covered icon of the Virgin Mary to offer prayers for an end to the war between “peoples of the same religion” in Ukraine. Until the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox faithful visiting Cyprus would come daily to venerate the relic. Tradition dictates it was fashioned by Luke the Evangelist from beeswax and mastic and blessed by the Virgin herself as a true representation of her image. Tourists visit the sea caves during sunset at in southern coastal resort of Ayia Napa in southeast Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Sunday, May 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) With the war and a European Union ban on Russian flights, the estimated 800,000 Russian and Ukrainian vacationers that head to Cy...
Read MoreCyprus will lift COVID-19 conditions for travel to the island from April 18, authorities said on Thursday, ending two years of rules imposed by the pandemic. FILE PHOTO: A traveller wearing a protective face mask is seen at Larnaca International Airport, after Cyprus opened up its airports following a nationwide lockdown amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Larnaca, Cyprus. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou The island said it was scrapping a colour-coded assessment of other countries based on epidemiological risk, an inbound flight permission to travel and PCR or rapid lateral flow tests for those who were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. People who have not been vaccinated, or not completed their booster shots would still need a PCR test or a lateral flow test, t...
Read MoreCyprus is offering hassle-free holidays to fully vaccinated individuals from 65 countries from May 10 as it seeks to recoup lost ground from the pandemic. The Mediterranean island, which has fared better than most countries in containing the COVID-19 outbreak, will accept vaccines permitted by the European Medicines Agency and Sputnik V made by Russia - its second largest market. FILE PHOTO: People paddle on a stand-up board during sunrise near a beach in Larnaca, Cyprus. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou "I think it's a fantastic initiative and I think it's very very important for people to know, that irrespective of (country risk) categorisation, if someone is fully vaccinated they no longer require tests to come to Cyprus," Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios told Reuters. T...
Read MoreCyprus is getting protected status for its prized halloumi, giving its producers the sole right to sell the rubbery cheese in the European Union. Later this month, the European Union is set to formally give halloumi, or “hellim” in Turkish, the protected designation of origin (PDO) status, which will come into effect from October, according to Cyprus’ agriculture ministry. Grilled halloumi is seen in a restaurant in Nicosia, Cyprus, April 2, 2021. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou The move reaffirms what the industry and state have said for years, said cheesemaker George Petrou, general manager of Petrou Bros. Dairy Products which has about 25% of Cyprus’ export market: that halloumi is Cypriot, with historical accounts suggesting production as early as around 1500. “Unfortunately in...
Read More