Eco Activists Slam Bulgaria Govt for Covering Expendables from Bat Accusations

The Devetashka cave is considered to be one of the most important natural habitats of bats in Europe. Photo by evgenidinev.com

Bulgarian environmental organization Green Balkans has protested a report by the Ministry of Environment, which found filming Hollwood blockbuster "The Expendables 2" in a local cave did not harm bats living there.

The probe, results from which were announced Tuesday, came on the heals of alarms by eco activists who said that due to noise and light from the shooting, bats in the Devetashka Cave were significantly disturbed.

The Devetashka Cave, located in central northern Bulgaria, houses for the winter a key European bat colony, with many endangered species protected in the country and Europe.

An excessive number of dead bats were found after the shooting of "The Expendables 2," claimed environmentalists.

It was reported a week ago that the European Commission has sent a letter to the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Waters, inquiring information on the case with the dead bats in the Devetashka cave.

Experts of the Ministry and now say that the majority of bats were found to be in hibernation and the dead ones were within the norm of the usual mortality rate.

Tuesday, Green Balkans recalled that a number of international wildlife protection organizations, such as UNEP/ЕUROBATS, BatLife Europe, Bat Conservation Trust, the European Speleological Federation, and CEEweb for biodiversity, have also pressed the case at the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!