Zypern – 11. 10. 2024

552 protected birds released and 25 poachers convicted amid massive spike in illegal bird trapping in Cyprus Republic – CABS. 882 limesticks, 51 nets and 40 bird callers seized by authorities within 30 days

Conservationists raise the alarm over a massive spike in illegal songbird trapping in the Republic of Cyprus. According to the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) the number of active trapping sites found by CABS in September – the most important month for songbird migration - has increased by more than 90 % compared to last year when 37 active installation were found.

“This September a total of 71 active sites were found and reported to the authorities. Hotspots were the areas around Maroni, Arradippou and Avgorou. The reports resulted in the successful conviction of 25 male individuals as well as in the confiscation of 883 limesticks, 51 nets and dozens of illegal bird calling devices used by the perpetrators”, CABS spokeswoman Stefania Travaglia said in a statement. She added that during the operations with the police and the game wardens a record number of 552 freshly caught birds were found alive and subsequently released. “Most of the birds were Blackcaps – Ambelopoulia – but we also rescued dozens of protected owls, shrikes, warblers, nightingales and other songbirds”, Miss Travaglia continued explaining that birds found stuck on limesticks had to be carefully cleaned from the glue before being released.

While saying that the game wardens responded quickly to their reports CABS pointed out that its teams were only able to monitor a small fraction of the areas used for illegal trapping in the Republic of Cyprus. “Bird poaching is widespread, and, in many areas, it is still a free-for-all because without reports from NGOs little proactive enforcement efforts are being conducted there”, CABS council member Dr. Andrea Rutigliano said. The conservationist criticized that the newly re-established Anti-Poaching Unit of the Cyprus Police seems to be busy with everything except bird poaching. “Illegal trapping and trade of protected birds is Cyprus´s most prevalent wildlife crime. How is it that most cases are still being investigated by the local police or the game wardens and not by the unit which bears the words “anti-poaching” in its name?”, Dr. Rutigliano asked. CABS particularly criticised that the wardens from the Game & Fauna Services do not have the same authority and equipment as the police when dealing with criminals, some of which earn tens of thousands of Euros with their illegal activity.