The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) organised a bird release event today at Naqoura, South Lebanon, in coordination with the UNIFIL Civil Affairs Office and Logistics, in addition to the SPNL’s Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) and the Middle East Sustainable Hunting Center (MESHC).

Members of SPNL, APU and MESHC teams, along with Mr. Mohamad abou Jahjah and Mr. Philip Scarr, helped a rescued Marsh Harrier get released back into the wild. “Tsolag”, named after the responsible hunter who rescued him, underwent rehabilitation at APU’s rescue center in Kfour, Keserwan. SPNL. This activity comes in the context of “Hima for Peace” initiative of SPNL to promote the biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources among communities, beyond wars and conflicts.

On the same day, and based on a request from the UNIFIL French Base at Deir Kifa, SPNL visited to advise on the situation of around 280 Greek Tortoises which have been captured and well taken care of at the base. SPNL took samples of the turtles for specialist inspection to make sure of the sub-species and develop a release plan that ensure their survival in the wild.

Collaboration opportunities between SPNL and the UNIFIL Civil Affairs Office are hot on the table now with many future plans to unfold in the next months.