22 January 2019
22.01.2019 - During the weekend, as part of carrying out routine field activities based on the Work Plan, a team from the Directorate for the Administration of the "Sharri" National Park carried out a visit to the Guri i Zi area.
The purpose of the visit was to prevent illegal logging and hunting, which from time to time have been evident in this area, especially during weekends. The field inspection lasted from 05:00 in the morning until 10:00, and during this time no illegal activity was observed.
After returning from the field in the evening hours, one of the nature rangers, who was part of the field inspection team, received a phone call from a person with the initials B.G. from Prizren, who for no reason threatened the nature ranger.
The Kosovo Police have been informed about the case and are investigating it.
The Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency strongly condemns the threats, attacks, or blackmail being carried out against the rangers and other officials of KAPA "Sharri," and calls on the judicial authorities to take action against these individuals. At the same time, it is requested from the responsible institutions of the Government of Kosovo, with the aim of preserving the resources of the "Sharri" National Park, which has been declared by special law for the protection of these rare natural values, to analyze the possibility of increasing the number of rangers, equipping them with weapons, and compensating for occupational hazards. This is not the first case of threats against the nature rangers of KAPA "Sharri." Months ago, there was an attack on the rangers of PK "Sharri" in the Suhareka region, where rangers Jemin Shala and Ali Dakaj were physically attacked by organized groups and sustained bodily injuries.
Also, during the past year, there have been shootings directed at the nature guards in the Kaçanik region.