The Environment Ministry suspended the operation of the Greek Wildlife Care Center (EKPAZ) on the island of Aegina on Wednesday. In its decision, the ministry cited “significant deficiencies” in the care of wildlife.
Prior to the decision, several complains were submitted by wildlife NGOs about the center and two control checks were conducted by members of the advisory board of the ministry.
However, the issue is more complicated than it seems, with former and current EKPAZ board members to have filed lawsuits against each other and the founder to allege a “war of interests.”
The Ministerial decision
The 5-member board suggested suspension of operation after it found out the Wildlife Center was inadequate in:
providing care work, perform medical operations, ensure the re-integration of the wildlife in its natural environment and provide the facility and water and electricity. not provide care work, did not perform medical operations
Additions reasons are :failure to comply with terms and conditions set out in 2000 and to comply with hygiene regulations.
Furthermore, the lease contract with the Attica Regional Government was not renewed – but that was more than a decade ago.