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This year the rodents have caused serious damages to farmers. Earlier, Harutyun Mnatsakanyan, who is engaged in wheat cultivation, informed Panorama.am that he had suffered a loss equal to 30 million AMD. The farmer, who has a certificate for producing organic food, could not fight them by applying pesticides.

During the interview conducted by Panorama.am environmentalist Silva Adamyan considered alarming such a rapid growth in number of rodents. According to her the current situation is based on the sharp decline in number of birds in our country and inadequate efforts to fight rodents.

“The efforts made to fight the rodents have declined to compare with the Soviet period. The use of large agricultural machinery has also decreased which has led to the increase in number of rats as well,” she noted.

The environmentalist noted that the number of birds have increased to 100 according to the recent publication of the Red Book. In order to fight rodents it is necessary to bring birds of prey close to the areas adjacent to corps.

“Such birds make up types of eagles and falcons. They need to install nests and feeders in such areas, steps are to be taken to improve the birds’ living conditions,” the expert added.

In her words the improper operation of mines causes great damage in this case.

“Global climate changes is widespread all over the world and powerful nations undertake constructive measures to fight the issue. Armenian is also involved in that fight. However currently that global changes have no effect on Armenia’s wildlife,” she noted.

According to Silva Adamyan they have carried out research regarding the possible consequences of the operation of a number of mines.

“For instance, in case of the exploitation of Amulsar mine, we will lose a great number of birds of prey, as environmental changes take place. When Teghut mine was exploited, we carried out a study to find out that it would cause an enormous loss,” Adamyan said.

In response to the question what other consequences the decline in number of birds could lead to, Adamyan mentioned the incident in Ujan village of Aragatsotn Region. The villagers reported that a large group of pink starlings were eating the crop. The scientists headed to the village to see it with their own eyes. They called upon the villagers to leave the birds alone as they would leave after a while. However the residents refused to forgive the starlings who had spoiled the fruit and they killed the majority of the birds with guns and slings.

“The pink starling fights against Egyptian and Italian locusts and they were considered sacred birds in Armenia in ancient times. People created appropriate conditions for them to live in their gardens,” Adamyan noted.

In 2007-2008 the ornithologists were reported that drought had stricken Aragatsotn Region.

“Right in Ujan village Egyptian and Italian locusts have destroyed the entire crop in a manner that the farmers could no longer do anything. We should draw conclusions from such incidents,” she said.

In Adamyan’s words serious scientific studies must be conducted and the results, possible risks revealed due to those studies must become the basis of the state policy.

“Otherwise we cannot register significant progress, the situation will remain the same,” S. Adamyan noted.