An ecologist group has denounced the alleged use of the Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo Natural Park airspace by motorised-paraglider pilots.

The ecologist group, Gabinete de Estudios de la Naturaleza de la Axarquía (GENA), filed a complaint with the Guardia Civil over these flights on Christmas Eve. They consider this practice to be illegal and contrary to the norms governing this protected area.

According to GENA, it was at 17.51h on Thursday the 24th that two, paralgliders with pusher motors flew between Cala Doncella and the lookout tower above La Caleta. Three eyewitnesses recorded the incident on video.

“Nevertheless, we have been reporting intrusions into the natural park at least once a month which is the result of nobody watching over the park on a constant basis,” explained the GENA spokesperson.

Most of the intrusions come from the sea with trawlers and scuba divers with spear guns. Furthermore, the ecologist say that on numerous occasions jet skis even land on isolated coves within the park.

Finally, GENA, points out that article 6.3.7 concerning the Public Use and Related Tourism Activities, says textually, “aeronautical activities using balloons, as well as gliding using paralgliders or hangliders without motors are forbidden.”

Lastly, GENA say that they recently had knowledge of a group of poachers who had organised a hunt to catch a male mountain goat on Cerro Gordo and that it was not the first time that poachers have entered the park.

Editorial comment/Martin: if it had been a paraglider without a motor then an intrusion is understandable, if you desperately need somewhere safe to land. Sometimes enthusiasts of this sport take off above Otívar and fly over the mountains to La Herradura and beyond. However, with a motor strapped behind you, you don’t have that excuse for flying over the park.

(News: Maro, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia)