Iraq Environment Ministry Warns Against Releasing Animals Into Tigris River

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Environment Ministry issued a written warning Monday regarding the practice of releasing animals into the Tigris River within Baghdad, stating that introducing living creatures into the ecosystem without authorization from competent authorities violates the law. Ministry spokesperson Luey el-Muhtar said environmental initiatives must be carried out only with proper permits or in coordination with the ministry. He cited the 2009 Environmental Protection and Improvement Law, which protects biodiversity, prohibits damaging wildlife in natural habitats, and bans the hunting of certain species. The same legislation also prohibits the unauthorized release of plant and animal species into the environment, according to the ministry. Muhtar noted that ecosystems such as the Tigris River, marshes, lakes, forests, and deserts function according to their own natural balance, and that disrupting this balance can harm the system. No further details about specific enforcement measures were immediately available.