The bat population in the Bulgarian Devetashka Cave, a key spot for
spending the winter season, has been reduced to 1/4 by the recent
filming of the blockbuster "Expendables 2", according to a Bulgarian
zoologist.
"The shooting of the movie harms the bat habitat - with the placement of
props, the cutting down of vegetation, as well as disturbance by the
presence of large numbers of people and the noise they make," said
Nikolay Simov from the Center for Bat Studies and Protection at the
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, as cited by the Focus news agency.
A special check conducted after the session showed that at present there
are some 8,000 in Devetashka Cave, while last year they were 30,000,
said Simov for Bulgarian Focus News Agency.
"What is even more alarming for us is that the legal regulations were
not respected. The regional environmental inspectorate has no authority
to give a permit for filming in this protected area," said Simov.
"The filming was in direct breach of the Bulgarian Law on Biological
Diversity, which prohibits disturbing and chasing away protected
species," specified he.
Simov added that the shooting was also in breach of the Agreement on the
Conservation of Populations of European Bats.
The researcher said he has been alarmed by environmentalists that
another movie production is planning to come to Devetashka, and he vowed
to press the case against that.
Earlier in November environmentalists protested against the planned
filming of "Expendables 2" in the cave, saying this will disturb and
chase away the animals.
The coming of an all-star team, including Sylvester Stallone, Bruce
Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chuck Norris, has been made somewhat
of a media sensation in Bulgaria.
At the same time, the Devetashka Cave in central northern Bulgaria,
Lovech Region, is considered one of the most important bat habitats in
Europe.
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