Conservation awareness campaign 
At the time of writing, this campaign 
is entering its final weeks (see 
Bull.24:23). The campaign has helped 
the establishment of the NCSPB (see 
above). We hope to have a fuller 
report in the next Bulletin. 
Jordan 
After a lengthy incubation period, 
the Royal Society for the Protection 
of Nature had produced an Arabic 
version of ICBP's popular bird book, 
with colour illustrations. It helps in 
the identification of over 100 local 
birds and serves as an introduction 
to birdwatching. The book also has 
an important role in local conservation 
education. 
Egypt 
Conservation Education Centre 
Having followed with interest the 
plans for a conservation education 
centre at Giza Zoo, we are pleased to 
report that it opened its doors in June 
and was formally opened on 3 
September 1990, after three years' 
hard work. Staff have attended courses 
at the International Centre for 
Conservation Education in England. 
A local edition of ICBP's popular 
bird book and an Arabic version of 
the Flying Visitors poster have both 
just been published. It is anticipated 
that between 20 and 40 thousand 
people will attend courses at the centre 
each year. In addition, there will be 
workshops for teachers and 
environmental officers from the 
region, and a portable unit has been 
launched to take the conservation 
message to people around the country. 
Falcon trapping 
An ICBP-sponsored survey is currently 
underway to establish the extent of 
falcon trapping in Egypt. We hope to 
be able to report further on this in the 
next Bulletin. It has been brought to 
our attention that the trapping methods 
mentioned in the last Bulletin may 
not have originated from Cornell 
University. We appologise for any 
embarrassment caused. 
Slender-billed Curlew 
ICBP's Slender-billed Curlew project 
has now come to an end, and an ICBP 
monograph is in preparation. 
Publication is currently expected early 
in 1991. Information gathered in the 
past two years suggests that the species 
is on the verge of extinction, with 
only 100 to 400 individuals remaining. 
The current breeding area remains 
unknown, and research continues. It 
seems likely that the prime cause of 
decline has been hunting pressure. In 
Italy, for example, 63 of the 76 records 
this century are of shot birds. Since 
only a very small proportion of shot 
birds are reported, it is likely that 
several thousands of individuals have 
been shot in Italy alone. Hunting 
continues - one was shot and wounded 
in Morocco last December. 
The ICBP monograph will contain an 
action plan for the conservation of 
the species. What is really needed is a 
complete ban on the hunting of all 
curlews and godwits in the countries 
where the species is known to occur. 
Hungary, Greece and Tunisia already 
have such a ban, and Morocco has 
recently protected all curlews. The 
status of the Slender-billed Curlew in 
the Middle East is far from clear, so 
such a ban throughout the region 
would be welcome. 
41 
