Killer cables

1993/08/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena

Eagles, vultures, storks, etc. die daily by electric cables. The numbers coming from different places indicate that the situation is serious.

According to data provided by the Spanish Society of Ornithology, in the municipalities of Madrid of El Escorial and San Martín de Valdeiglesias in the last three years 16 solar eagles have died by electric cables. Since there are currently only 13 pairs of this species in this area, the species is in danger.

According to the aforementioned Society, 75% of the 105 million euros needed for the change of electricity line in the Community of Madrid come from the European Union and the remaining 25% will be provided by ICONA and the Environment Agency. To date only 100 of the seven hundred earrings have been made.

However, what happened in Madrid is more frequent in other places in the Spanish state. In the tremors, for example, last year a solar eagle died, 12 Bonelli eagles, 16 black eagles, 14 black alimoches, 33 vasollos, 2 black storks and 104 white storks.

The cause of death, in general, is not collision, but laying on cables. Environmental organizations are therefore making different requests, including the introduction of all cables in the subsoil and the placement of suitable insulation. Of course, the first solution, more expensive than the second, but at the same time more adequate, is generating serious controversies between administrations and environmentalists.