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“We are currently carrying out an operational evaluation of the funds used, and we will review the plans for the installation of the bison in Dzūkija only after consulting the international scientific community,” the minister said in a comment sent to BNS.
According to him, the bison is a protected species at European level, so any solution must improve its condition, not damage it.
The minister says that the bison project is not concerned with the welfare of the bison, but only with the enclosure.
“For 5.4 million. We can set up an aviary and feed the fodder beet, but it will not be better for the animals,” said S. Gentvilas.
At the end of June, the former Minister of the Environment, a farmer Kęstutis Mažeika, ordered the State Service for Protected Areas to suspend the project to install a bison in the Varėna district.
Acquisition procedures were suspended after the fall of five bison, which were to be transferred to the planned bison in Dainava forest.
Two bison that were planned to be moved fell in the bustling Telšiai district, and the carcasses of three other bison were found in the forests of the Kiniadainiai and Panevėžys districts.
Wait for a review of the decision
Albertas Stanislovaitis, head of the State Service for Protected Areas, told BNS that she expected the new minister to review K. Mažeika’s decision.
The head of the service said that he is currently in active talks with the ministry leadership on the bison in Dzūkija.
“We are now actively talking to the new ministry leadership. It goes without saying that they want to collect all the information, “said A. Stanislovaitis.
He said it was not good to stop the trunk installation project.
“In my opinion, it is not good to stand in the middle of a project when the State has invested, done a lot, is committed both to the public and to the European Commission in the bison protection plan,” said the director of the service.
According to him, the state has already invested about 1 million. euros for the bison project in Dzūkija.
“The road is equipped, technical projects have been prepared, a trap has been built near Kėdainiai and bison has started to be caught,” said A. Stanislovaitis.
According to him, later in the wild, in addition to the five, more downed bison were found.
“Studies have shown that they have quite a few diseases,” said the head of the service.
The bison protection project, which aims to install a 100-hectare bison in the Varėna district, is funded by the European Union, the value of the project is 5.4 million. euros.
It is estimated that currently between 200 and 220 bison live in Lithuanian forests, mainly around Kėdainiai and Panevėžys.
It is not allowed to publish, quote or reproduce the information of the BNS news agency in the media and on websites without the written consent of the UAB “BNS”.
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