Filenews 17 October 2021 - by Evangelia Sizopoulou
"How would you react in front of a snake? What would you do if you saw a spider in your room? What do you really know about the fox?"! The myths and truths about these "misunderstood" animals, and not only about them, are recorded in a particularly original book that has been given to primary schools by the Ministry of Education and which is addressed to students of the second, third and fourth grades.
Title of "Myths and Truths about the Animals of Cyprus", while the phrase on the cover of "It is not what you think" is particularly striking. Something that foreshadows you for its content, which of course deals with animals that are considered misunderstood and may cause fear in humans. The aim of this book is to pass the message on to everyone, and especially to children, that every animal on earth, from the smallest insect to the largest mammal, contributes in its own unique way to the balance of our common ecosystem and deserves our respect.
Browsing through the pages of the beautifully illustrated book, the reader can learn in an easy and quite understandable way, the myths and truths surrounding six "misunderstood" species of animals living in Cyprus, namely the fox, bats, snakes, the bird, the hedgehog and the spiders.
The book can be used in a variety of ways at school and at home, providing unique experiences of creative learning and awareness to children and adults, related to the protection of the biodiversity of our country.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Cyprus, despite its small size, is home to rich biodiversity. As far as the fauna is concerned, to date more than 400 species of birds have been recorded in our country, which 53 are permanent residents of the island. The rest are migratory. Cyprus is home to 30 species of mammals of which 19 are bats, 10 species of land mammals and four marine mammals (three species of dolphins and one species of seal). In our country we also meet 22 species of reptiles, of which eight are snakes, 11 lizards and three turtles. There are also three species of frogs.
"The book you hold in your hands seeks to disprove misconceptions and emphasize the importance of respecting every form of life. And we, humans, are part of all the species that live on Earth and we must not by our actions put the rest of the species at risk", is mentioned by the Ministry of Agriculture in the preface to the book.
On his part, the Minister of Education, Prodromos Prodromos, in his own preface mentions, among other things, that the book through simple texts, framed by graphic illustrations, but also a series of creative educational activities, to help young and old to abolish distortions and misconceptions that prevail. In this way, it helps to cultivate respect for these species of animals and reduce the risks of their extinction.
Using Tom Reagan's phrase: "because we have seen the other animals through the myopic lens of our arrogance, we have misinterpreted what they are, and because we have repeated our ignorance, to each other and wrongly we have perceived it as knowledge", the Minister of Education pointed out: "We hope that through the pages of this book, which we submit to the children, to teachers and parents, we will help to see the world and other living organisms from a different perspective."
THE FOX -Among the myths presented in the book about the fox, it is reported that it has characteristics of a cunning and evil animal. This view seems to have been cultivated through the myths of Aesop, in which the fox is presented as a cunning, insidious and evil animal, which deceives everything else. The truth, however, is that the fox has similar characteristics to dogs and a strong need to care for its family. As mentioned, the fox remains with the same mate for the rest of her life, while both parents participate equally in the care of their little ones.
THE BATS- We have all heard that bats feed on blood and are therefore dangerous to humans. And yet, the students who will read the book will learn that bats are afraid of people, and in Europe there are no bats that feed on blood. Also, the myth that bats are blind is debunked. They just mainly use their ears to move in the dark through echolocation. Bats play a very important role for the environment as in a single evening they can eat up to 3,000 insects, thus regulating the insect population.
THE SNAKES- About snakes, and what we haven't said and what we haven't heard! "They are all dangerous because they all have poison", "snakes hunt people to bite them", "snakes are attracted to milk and drink it". In the book, however, it is mentioned that snakes do not have the necessary enzymes to digest milk. It is also pointed out that snakes are very afraid of man, even more so than man fears them. Regarding their danger, the book points out that most snakes are harmless. It is estimated that of the 3,500 species of snakes that exist on earth, only 1/5 have poison that can harm humans. In Cyprus there are eight species of snakes of which three have poison. Of these, only one has a toxic poison, and that is the viper.
SPIDERS- If you believe spiders are insects, your myth collapses. According to the school textbook they belong to the class "Arachnids". That is, they have eight legs, and their body is divided into two parts, unlike insects that have six legs, and their body is divided into three parts. Experts even reassure that spiders are not dangerous for humans as most of their species are completely harmless.
THE BIRD- "The human girl brings bad luck when you meet it". This is a legend that accompanies the bird. But he is also shot down as neither the bird nor any other animal brings bad luck. Their cries, which often terrify, come mainly from their young who are looking for food, but also from their parents in order to declare that a region belongs to them.
HEDGEHOGS- Some may think that hedgehogs attack hens and injure them, but this is not the case. Their presence, often in chicken coops, is aimed at finding food either from insects, or from food placed there to feed the poultry.
