Tangier Tackles Stray Dog Problem

Tangier has recently approved a cooperation agreement with the association "The sanctuary of fauna of Tangier", aimed at fighting the phenomenon of stray animals

According to the mayor of Tangier, Mohamed Bachir Abdellaoui, the initiative plans to put in place "the necessary means to adopt a more humanistic approach, to find a solution to the problem of stray animals,"

Under this convention, "The Tangier Wildlife Sanctuary" undertakes to organise campaigns to sterilise stray animals in the territorial jurisdiction of Tangier. The association will also be in charge of controlling their food and treating them, as well as organising, in partnership with the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) and the health service of the municipality, vaccination campaigns. against rabies.

Tangier city will provide a grant of 300,000 dirhams to the association. It also undertakes to provide a space for the reception of these animals, to cover the costs of sterilisation and medical treatment.

Ahmed Tazi, president of the Association for the Defense of Animals and Nature (ADAN), says "The aim is that this pilot program  shoud be extended to the national level".

Last October, the city of Rabat took a first step in this direction, through the establishment of a pilot program of for the canine and feline population, in partnership with ADAN and the Association Network for Animal Welfare and Sustainable Development in Morocco (RAPAD).  It included sterilisation, vaccination and identification of stray dogs and cats in the streets of the capital.

Stray dogs in Rabat

"We are in the process of mobilising the services of the Ministry of the Interior, ONSSA, the Order of Veterinarians and the Wilaya to ensure that this pilot program is successful at the national level. But it must be done professionally. That is to say, through a human and ethical capture of animals in order not to traumatise them, "warns Ahmed Tazi.

"It has been more than thirty years since the Moroccan authorities killed stray dogs. Have we succeeded in eradicating zoonoses (infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans by animals and vice versa, such as rabies, plague or tuberculosis, editor's note? No never. So the solution is not there! ", Ahmed Tazi argues.

Ahmed Tazi says, we must sterilize, vaccinate and release stray animals: It remains the case that rabies in Morocco is relatively low, although it is difficult to estimate because no statistics are available. It is thought that there is an annual average of around thirty cases of human rabies in the country.

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Rabat Zoo Announces Arrival of Baby Hippopotamus

Rabat Zoo has had the first birth of a hippopotamus, after a gestation period of 8 months

The zoological garden said in a statement that this first birth of a large mammal is the result of the adaptation of the hippopotamus species to its environment, following the actions of the zoo for the conservation of species, stating that the 16-year-old mother has been a resident of the zoo since it opened, and the birth was in the most natural conditions.

According to the same source, the baby hippopotamus received special attention from the veterinary team of the zoo, in terms of vaccination and care and it is possible that visitors will be able to see it with his mother this week in the wetland ecosystem of the Zoological Garden.

The zoological garden now has a total of six hippos that belong to the family Hippopotamidae and are part of the species of hippos common or amphibian (Hippopotamus amphibius), native to sub-Saharan Africa
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This species, which is included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), is considered vulnerable on the Red List of Threatened Species of the World Union for the Protection of Wild Animals.

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Global Warming Impacts on Morocco

Morocco's Royal Institute for Strategic Studies (IRES) has warned that global warming is having an impact on the Kingdom's biodiversity, claiming that if nothing is done to fight climate change, nearly 22% of the countries flora could disappear by 2050

The Royal Institute for Strategic Studies (IRES) was established in November 2007 and tasked with contributing to decision-making on strategic issues. Its mission is to carry out strategic studies and analyses on issues as advised by His Majesty The King and to be entrusted with a strategic watch task, both at the national and international level, in fields deemed strategic for the country.

The Institute's recent report on the global issues of the biosphere points out that several species of birds and mammals may disappear because of drought, while 9% are already endangered, 7% listed as vulnerable and another 7% critically endangered.

Endangered mammals in Morocco include: the Barbary Macaque (Macaca sylvanus, Barbary Sheep (Ammotragus lervia), Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Dorcas Gazelle (Gazella dorcas), Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra), Geoffroy's Bat (Myotis emarginatus),Greater Short-tailed Gerbil (Gerbillus maghrebi). (Endemic to Morocco.) Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena).

Greater Short-tailed Gerbil

The endangered Greater Short-tailed Gerbil is endemic to northern Morocco. It is found from the southeastern slopes of the Rif Mountains and the Gharb plain, to Chaouia and southwards to Jbilets.

Morocco is prone to drought

A major cause of climate stress in Morocco is attributed to a shortage of water, with an expected decline of about 20% to 50% of precipitation by the end of the century.

While Morocco is already in a situation of water stress, with the equivalent of 600 m3 / capita per year by 2050, demographic pressure and climate change, the water capital per capita could fall to less than 500 m3 per year, the report said.

"Morocco would face a water shortage and therefore to the cost of production and exploitation of water resources that are increasingly high," said IRES.

Another consequence of climate change: the increased vulnerability of soils, especially because of the growing needs of the agricultural sector. "The soils are already suffering from the degradation that occurs, especially through deforestation, land clearing and land cover changes," notes the report.

In 2050, land degradation could reduce the agricultural area per capita 0.15 hectare against 0.24 currently.

Fish stocks are also under threat, while fish stocks are already experiencing degradation due mainly to poor management of coastal areas, to polluting discharges into the seas and overfishing.

Rising sea levels could finally lead, by 2050, the flooding of low-lying coasts, and coastal erosion could take almost half of the area of ​​Moroccan beaches, and up to 72% over 2100.

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The Moroccan Fennec - The Smallest Fox

Rarely seen, the fennec fox or fennec (Vulpes zerda) is a small nocturnal fox found in the Moroccan Sahara. Its most distinctive feature is its unusually large ears, which apart from hearing, also serve to dissipate heat

The fennec is usually nocturnal, but sometimes moves during the day in very hot weather

Its name comes from the Arabic word فنك (fanak), which means fox, and the species name zerda comes from the Greek word xeros which means dry, referring to the fox's habitat.

The fennec is the smallest species of canid in the world. Its coat, ears, and kidney functions have adapted to high-temperature, low-water, desert environments. In addition, its hearing is sensitive enough to hear prey moving underground. It mainly eats insects, small mammals, and birds.


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The Mouse in the Mosque Saga Continues

Was it a single mouse, acting alone? A so-called lone wolf mouse? Was it a Moroccan mouse, or an illegal migrant? Where were the security cats at the time?

Back during Ramadan, The View From Fez reported on the stampede in the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca - the chaos caused by a mouse. Unfortunately eighty-one people sustained minor injuries.

Now it appears that there is much more to the story. There also may have been more than one mouse.

According to reports in the local media the prefectural services of the Casablanca judicial police have arrested three individuals suspected of being responsible for the stampede during the vigil of Laylat al-Qadr the "Night of Destiny".

The beautiful Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca seen from the ocean

Last Monday they arrested a parking attendant from a parking area near the mosque. It is alleged that he could have dropped mice in the wing reserved for women just before the Al Fajr prayer (the Islamic dawn prayer). The three people arrested so far have been interviewed by the metropolitan police who say that further inquiries are expected to be carried out.

If the story is true, it raises the question of what the motivation was for releasing a mouse or mice in the mosque. Was it a spur of the moment prank? "Hey, I have a mouse in my pocket, what shall we do with it?" Or was it a well planned mouse attack with the mouse prepared well in advance? As one sceptic told The View From Fez, " I smell a rat! I don't know about you, but I hardly every carry a mouse in my pocket."

Prayers inside Hassan II Mosque on Laylat al-Qadr

Despite extensive inquiries the fate of the mouse (or mice) is still undetermined

The mouse incident has captured the imagination of many Moroccans and already the "mouse in the mosque" jokes are being told. There is also an animated music video by Khalid Benz, which has been viewed almost forty thousand times. It depicts the mouse, that caused the stampede and tells the story from his point of view.


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Horse Whispering in Fez

A recent visit to Fez by famed French horse whisperer Jean-Francois Pignon offered local mule owners a different way of working with their animals

Brought to Morocco by the American Fondouk, Mr Pignon has an extraordinary reputation for communicating with the most difficult of horses. Since 1991, he has held spectaculars in arenas worldwide, featuring horses guided by him using a silent language of trust.

For Director of the American Fondouk, Dr Gigi Kay, the hospital for working equids in the Fez Medina, seeing Mr Pignon's methods changed the way she worked with horses, mules and donkeys. "I saw Jean-Francois a few years ago and his show was so amazing, I realised I had been working with horses all my life, and I hadn't understood how fully you can communicate with them."

"Then in May 2014, I did a workshop with him, and he showed us his technique."

Usually Mr Pignon is highly paid to perform and teach, however, he offered to come to Morocco free of charge to assist local mule owners.

The mules and donkeys of the Fez Medina are a hardworking bunch of older animals, that can be relied upon not to kick fellow pedestrians. The source of their owners' very modest income, they spend their days labouring up and down the narrow alleys carrying large loads. They are generally unused to kindness, as they are not pets.

"I don't expect them to take on Jean-Francois's techniques, but I do want owners to see their mules more as a partner and less as a machine...to inject a little love into the partnership," said Dr Kay.

When one work-worn mule met Mr Pignon, it first ignored him. "The mule seemed zoned out. It had obviously worked so hard and it was old, used to a difficult life. But the animal was still able to respond to him."

After twenty minutes of guidance and kindness, the aged mule followed him around. The mule owners were astonished and, as one giving voice to all their thoughts said, "Look, it's following him like a dog'."

After the demonstration, Dr Gigi Kay overheard more than one mule owner saying, "He's so soft; we are too hard on our mules."

The mule owners had plenty to think and talk about

Visitors are welcome at the Fondouq. 

See the animals and have a close look at the interactions between the team of vets, technicians and the owners of the animals. Drop-in visitors are always welcome as well. We suggest you arrive in the morning. Also visit their website HERE

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Casablanca's Sindibad Park Reopens in 2015

Located in Grand Casablanca, Sindibad Amusement Park (Parc d'Attractions de Sindibad) was once an attraction for hordes of tourists and locals who came to enjoy rides and games. Some of the attractions included whirling carousels, dizzying dodgems, slides and paddle boats. And the icon was the the giant statue of Sinbad staring down at visitors with a manic expression. Over time the park became somewhat jaded. Now that is all about to change

The  Sindibad Amusement Park is getting a remake and for those with  happy memories of the old park, hope is that it will be given a new lease of life.

Desiring a renewal of the amusement park, the Moroccan authorities launched an international request for proposals for the design of a new park, its financing and its management.

The response has seen a joining forces of Groupe Alliances associated with Palmeraie Développement, Somed, and Actif Invest for the financial end of things, and with the Compagnie des Alpes, for management.  The project is slated as an "eco-responsible commitment".

In addition to the amusement park there will be an animal park, an ecological park, an archaeological park and an urban park.

Developed from the concept of "Sinbad's New Worlds", it is structured into thematic islands referring to the countries on the sailor's mythic journeys. The animal park is also divided into five "biotopes", like the five continents. The ecological park, the most deteriorated part of the old site will be born again based on a "re-naturation". The archaeological park is situated where the oldest human remains in North Africa were found. The urban park at the edge of the sea below, will be shielded from the wind, to encourage families and joggers.

Water running from five sources at the top of the site creates natural links between all these parks. An Earth House allows the appreciation of the natural dimension of all these locations with an environment awareness programme. A tower in the park signposts each area.

The project will be completed in 2015 with the construction project managed by,Des Alpes, a French company specializing in leisure. The theme park, it will be managed by Walibi, specialist leisure parks.

And the expected cost of a ticket?  Word has it that it will be set at 15 dirhams per person, and 70 dirhams per family.


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Moroccan Puppy ~ Cute and Available from the American Fondouk in Fez

A young puppy was recently given to the American Fondouk in Fez. It was rescued from being tormented by children and has now recovered. The puppy is available to someone looking for a cute and affectionate pet

The puppy has been vaccinated (given all its inoculations), wormed and generally looked after. It is now in perfect health. Anyone interested in adopting the puppy should contact the American Fondouk or email theviewfromfez@gmail.com and we will put you in touch with the Fondouk. It is suggested that the new owner should make a small donation to the valuable work (with Medina donkeys and horses) done by the Fondouk.

To find out more about the work of the Fondouk, CLICK HERE

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Exploring Morocco's Tazekka National Park

The Tazekka National Park is one of the great parks in Morocco. It was created in 1950 with only 580 hectares of land in order to protect the many natural resources that could be found at Jbel Tazekka in the Middle Atlas mountain range. The park proved to be a successful venture and today it covers an area of approximately 12,800 hectares of land

The Tazekka National Park in Morocco was created with the main goal of protecting a grove of cedar trees (Cedrus atlantica) found in the Jbel Tazekka area. The park has since been extended on more than one occasion to include a variety of natural habitats. It now features forests of cork oak and holm oak, caves, canyons, rural landscapes, cascades and a mountain – Jbel Tazekka - which is some 1 980 meters high. The interesting variety of altitudes and resulting flora is home to a variety of wildlife and the national park has become a haven for bird watchers. The park was first extended in 1989 and now includes a central core zone of 2,500 hectares and a cork-oak production zone of 6,000 hectares. The original parcel of land is a tourist zone and features a number of excellent forests that make for particularly good nature hikes. There is information displayed about the length and difficulty of each hike.  For our report on the caves, see HERE

Located near the city of Taza in Morocco's Middle Atlas mountain range, Tazekka National Park has varied terrain offering habitats to a wide range of reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals including the rare Barbary deer (Cervus elaphus barbarous). Also known as the Atlas deer, the Barbary deer was once extinct in Morocco, but was reintroduced into  Tazekka National Park through a Moroccan-German collaboration launched in 1994.

Barbary deer (Cervus elaphus barbarous)

Initially two males and six females were transported from Tunisia to Tazekka where they were allocated a reserve of 1.5 hectares. Unfortunately, two of the females died upon arrival, but the remaining animals appeared in good health and in 1995, ten Barbary deer were counted in the reserve. More recently up to seventy deer have been observed in an area of around five hundred hectares within the park.

A group of Barbary wild boar

The Barbary wild boar is another mammalian inhabitant of the National Park. It is best seen in the park's wooded areas where it spends early mornings and late afternoons foraging for food. While their preferred food appears to be roots, nuts, berries, tubers and other plant matter, Barbary wild boars are known to eat just about anything they find, including carrion, ground-nesting birds, insects and small reptiles. Females and their offspring of varying ages live in groups, while males are solitary and only seek out company during breeding season. Females are known to defend their young fearlessly by charging the intruder with a wide open mouth and biting if given the chance. Males respond to intruders by lowering their heads, charging and slashing upward with their tusks. As the wild ancestors of domestic pigs, wild boars have many species and subspecies in different parts of the world. Although they can be predatory, they serve an important role in the environment as scavengers and seed dispersers.

The common genet

Other mammals found in the park include the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata), common otter (Lutra lutra), common genet (Genetta genetta), North African hedgehog (Atelerix algirus), golden jackal (Canis aureus) and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).

A Golden Jackel

The fact that the area is protected by law has not put a damper on local citizens who have long used the region to raise their livestock and grow a variety of agricultural products. As a result the eastern slopes of Jbel Tazekka have been overgrazed. However, the local population fully supports conservation efforts and they work together with forest-conservation authorities to ensure the continued survival of this massive natural area.

North African hedgehog

Crested porcupine

Recent years have seen a drastic improvement in tourist facilities with the development of better roads, tourist circuits, picnic areas and even an ecological museum. This has resulted in great numbers of tourists visiting the Tazekka National Park. If you should wish to visit this park  please take care not to disturb the natural way of things to the greatest degree possible and so contribute to the continued survival of this incredible national park.

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Moroccan News Briefs #112

USS Simpson Arrives in Casablanca

A member of the visit, board, search and seizure team assigned to the Royal Moroccan Navy Floreal-class frigate Hassan II, left, searches a Sailor playing the role of a cargo ship crew member during a passing exercise aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Simpson
Photo by MC2 Tim D. Godbee

The guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) arrived in Casablanca, Morocco, for a scheduled port visit, early March.

Simpson’s visit serves to strengthen the existing partnership between Morocco and the U.S., and provide each other with opportunities for cultural exchanges.

“I am excited Simpson has been given another opportunity to visit Casablanca and operate with the Royal Moroccan Navy,” said Cmdr Christopher Follin, Simpson’s commanding officer. “It’s not very often that one of our ships has the opportunity to re-visit friends we made on a previous deployment. We are looking forward to building upon the cooperative efforts and interoperability in training that both of our Navies strengthened during our last visit. When we share ideas and learn to operate together, we become twice as strong a force to improve maritime safety and security for all nations in the region.”

During the visit, Simpson is scheduled to conduct a passing exercise with the Royal Moroccan Navy, hold office calls and gift exchanges with a number of Moroccan officials, host a reception, and conduct a community relations event with the Bennani Center Girl’s School.

“Every time we go out and do something for the communities we visit, we have a great time,” said Ship’s Serviceman 1st Class Manuel Dulucgomez, Simpson’s community relations event coordinator. “The location we chose for this port visit gives us an opportunity to make a great impression on the youth of Morocco and hopefully we’ll make a difference in their lives.”

As a part of the visit, Simpson Sailors will also have an opportunity to go on a number of tours through the ship’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation department, most notably a tour of the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world.

“The ship stopped here on its last deployment, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about it,” said Yeoman Seaman Luis Burks. “The culture here is very rich, and every corner you turn there’s a piece of history waiting to be learned about. Hopefully I’ll be able to see it all while I’m here.”

Simpson is on a scheduled deployment supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.


Police seize over 2,000 smuggled phones in Tangiers

The Moroccan police has seized over 2,000 new mobile phones in two vehicles on two successive days at the Tangiers ferry dock during the first week of March, Agence Ecofin reports.

First 945 smartphones were found on a coach registered in Spain, then 1,138 more were found hidden in a Moroccan expatriate's van, registered in France.

The customs service estimates that the taxable value of the haul is around MAD 945,000 (approximately USD 116,000). One can only speculate about the number of contraband handsets coming into Morocco on a regular basis and the loss of income to its treasury.


Casablanca Zoo at Ain Sebaa criticised

One of two remaining Atlas lions at Casablanca zoo. photos were published on the page “Save the zoo of Ain Sebaa” on Facebook

FRANCE24 reports that animal rights activists in Morocco are up in arms at the distressing state of Ain Sebaa zoo in Morocco. The zoo, which houses species on the verge of extinction such as Atlas lions and tapirs, is the subject of protests and petitions as locals mobilise to highlight the alarming conditions for the animals.

In January 2012, Prince Hassan, the son of King Mohammed VI of Morocco, unveiled the revamp at another zoo in Morocco at Rabat with great fanfare. At this zoo, there is a veterinary clinic on site and an educational farm for children. The zoo at Rabat was renovated to meet international standards and to bring pride to the Moroccan capital. However, the situation at the zoo in Casablanca, the country’s second largest city, couldn't be more different.

Enclosure for an American Lama

Othman Ghaiti is the vice president of the Moroccan organisation for the protection of animals and the environment. He reports:

We discovered the terrible situation at the zoo three years ago. During a casual visit with the organisation’s president, we saw an emaciated Atlas lion that was dead in its enclosure. At the time, the zoo’s directors told us the lion had just died. But we had serious doubts when we saw the state of the carcass. We think the carcass had been there for a long time, but the zoo’s administrators were not in any hurry to remove it.

So we decided to examine the zoo’s situation in more detail. For several months now, we’ve been visiting every Sunday and can confirm the disastrous living conditions for the animals. There are, for example, four brown bears at the zoo, the only such bears in Morocco. These animals are fed carrot peelings and bread. They’ve never eaten fish. [Editor’s Note: In the wild, brown bears are omnivores. Although mostly vegetarian, they also eat fish and insects]. We’ve also helped out during the Atlas lions’ feedings, and saw that the meat was so rotten that it had turned blue. That’s not surprising, since the zoo keeps the food in a room without even a fridge.

The security of animals at the zoo is also inadequate. Apart from the ticket controller, there are no guards inside. There were no guards to tell visitors not to throw food at the animals or frighten them. Most of the enclosures are made of basic metal bars; there are neither wire nets nor plexiglass. Visitors can throw whatever they into the enclosures and put the animals’ lives in danger. I’ve even seen people give cigarettes to monkeys!

When the animals are injured, the zoo is in no hurry to treat them. For example, there was a fight between two lamas recently, and one of them was injured in the neck. This happened on a Sunday, and when we called the zoo’s director to tell him about it, he told us he had to wait until Monday for the vet to be available.

There’s no doubt the zoo lacks resources. The entry ticket costs 10 cents, while it costs 4 euros at the Rabat zoo. How are they supposed to run a zoo with so little revenue? The state does provide for a portion of its budget, but when we look at the state of the place, we wonder where the money’s gone.

In 2012, after a zoo visit, the mayor of Casablanca promised to set up a plan to completely renovate the zoo. There was even a plan to expand the zoo from its current size of 2.5 hectares to 10 hectares. However, we’re still waiting for the work to start.

The mayor of Casablanca reaffirmed at the end of February that the zoo will be renovated sometimes in the next two years. According to the Moroccan newspaper “L’économiste”, 65 million dirham [5.5 million euros] has been budgeted for the renovation.

When contacted by FRANCE24, the zoo’s director, Mehdi Omari Alaoui, said that in his opinion, the animals looked very well and all the accusations were lies. He added that the zoo was waiting for a new round of funding from the authorities to make improvements.


Lecture in Fez Tonight

International Affairs - Thought for the day!

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Calf With Two Heads Born Outside of Fez

A two-headed calf born in Morocco has made world news. Images of the calf, born in the village of Sefrou, are on television and online as far away as Australia

The  polycephalic (two-headed) calf was born in a Moroccan village and has been attracting lots of attention since its arrival on 30 December, 20123

 The calf was named "Sana Saida"- Happy New Year in Arabic.Photo credit: Fadel Senna /AFP/Getty Images)

The calf was named Sana Saida, which means 'Happy New Year' in Arabic attracted scores of local visitors, but unfortunately the calf died two days later.


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