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The association "Anthropos, Offer and Creation" (Catnation), which presented its vision on Tuesday evening in the presence of DISY President and presidential candidate Averof Neophytos and Limassol Mayor Nikos Nicolaides.
The number of stray cats in Cyprus is estimated to be more than one million, with all the problems this entails, said the President of the association, Dr. Sophocles Nicolaides, who asked for the support of the state for the implementation of the plans for the creation of the theme park.
"It is not only about creating a theme park, it is also about educating children, changing the mindset that exists in Cypriot society," he said, adding that "no one is happy when they see kittens sick, abandoned or dead on the streets."
He said that the association was created in 2019 by a group of animal-loving volunteers who, among other things, offer feeding, neutering, care and treatment of stray cats and public awareness services.
The Limassol Theme Park attempts to provide a solution to the problem of overpopulation of stray cats, said association member Eleni Nikita, presenting the plans and proposals of Catnation.
As of 2019, she indicated, the association expects a response to the request to lease gravel land that was deemed suitable, just outside the Limassol Tower community and which can accommodate more than six thousand stray cats.
At the same time, she continued, the proposed design includes recreational areas for young and old, a playground, a cafeteria, education and information areas, etc. It is, he said, "a holistic approach to a sustainable solution, which will help substantially in addressing the issue, contribute to the cultivation of animal welfare awareness in our country, the development of the local community and efforts to enhance the tourism product."
[/P]He also noted that the goal is to have 5,000 stray cat sterilizations per year, as opposed to 1.100 under the existing government programme, indicating that this would mean about 300 thousand fewer stray cats in five years.
The assurance that the government will continue to allocate 100 thousand euros per year for the stray cat neutering programme and the annual grant, for this purpose, to animal welfare organisations was given by Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis in his address.
In his address, read by veterinary officer Konstantinos Economides, the Minister of Agriculture thanked the volunteers and announced the donation of one thousand euros to the association for the needs of the event and its activities.
In a brief address, DISY President Averof Neophytou said that the state, by supporting non-profit organizations, "does much more work with much less money."
Saying that our culture is also judged by our pro-animal conscience, Neophytou congratulated the association and the Limassol Municipality for their actions for stray animals.
He assured, finally, that he will mediate so that, as soon as possible, the association will receive information about its request for the concession of land in Chalithi.
Expressing his appreciation to Catnation, Limassol Mayor Nicos Nicolaides said that its vision is grand and ambitious, while it will take a lot of effort to implement it, "mainly on the part of the parliament and the state, in relation to legislative regulations for the disposal of the land and grants for sterilisation programmes".
Saying that the subsidy that the Limassol Municipality receives from the state for neutering is meagre compared to the tens of thousands of stray cats in the city, Nicolaides stressed that the Municipality is forced to contribute with municipal funds and assured that new programmes will soon be launched to support this cause.
During his address, the Limassol Mayor announced that, last Monday, an agreement was signed between the competent Ministry of the Greater Limassol Municipalities for the concession of land in Mouttayaka, with the aim of creating a common dog shelter.
In this context, he continued, part of the funds claimed from the state grants could be used to create a shelter for stray cats in the same area, a proposal that will be examined in cooperation with animal welfare organisations.
Nikos Nicolaides stressed that "the problem of stray cats is huge and real and must be addressed".
The attendees also sent a message of support to Catnation member Iphigenia Aristeidou Georgiou, who inspired the creation of the association and the promotion of the theme park idea - as on July 19 she was swept away by a vehicle in Limassol and is hospitalized.
Source: CNA
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