WATCH: Thousands of protected eagles & migratory birds slaughtered in Lebanon
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Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) publish a short video documenting our joint operations with local partners from Middle Eastern Sustainable Hunting Centre (MESHC) and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) in September and October 2023. The footage show our activists documenting illegal mass-killings of Lesser Spotted Eagles, Short-toed-Eagles, Black Kites, Levant Sparrowhawks, Honey Buzzards, Montagus´s Harriers, Marsh Harriers Kestrels and Hobbys in the district of Akkar, Northern Lebanon.
Some days later our teams return to the sites. But this time they are accompanied by armed officers from the Lebanese Internal Security Forces who are able to disarm and arrest a total of 14 poachers.
Watch now our new YouTube video here.
Malta: 27 trapping sites dismantled, 263 birds seized
19.03.2024
During the last two weeks CABS reports have led the police to 27 trapping sites used for illegal trapping. Thanks to the swift response of the officers 24 persons have been identified as suspects and are expected to be taken to court for trapping during the closed season. 33 sets of clap nets and a total of 263 live birds were confiscated. The biggest case so far was discovered yesterday when the E.P.U. inspected a compound near Siggiewi. The officers discovered active clap nets and a huge illegal collection of live birds including Red Throated Pipits, Dotterels and various buntings including one Rustic Bunting. A total of 107 live birds were seized.
More informations can be found in our press release. Watch our recent video here.
Success in Italy: Alpine passes become hunting-free!
17.03.2024
For decades, our partner organisation LAC and CABS have been fighting for the implementation of an EU regulation that requires Alpine passes important for bird migration to be legally protected. The pro-hunting government of Lombardy has been delaying the measure for two decades with ever new excuses. Now the administrative court in Milan has imposed a special commissioner with far-reaching powers on the Lombardy government for its inaction. He is now enforcing the protection of the 42 Alpine passes - in 150 days, i.e. just in time for the start of the hunting season, they must be hunting-free. Special thanks to the LAC for their tireless work in this matter!
Songbird snares seized in Sardinia.
11.03.2024
In recent weeks, a CABS team has been working in Sardinia to combat the illegal trapping of birds and mammals with snares. During the mission, which lasted several weeks, our Italian-Spanish-English team was able to convict a gang of poachers together with the police.
A total of 35 wire snares, 55 snares for songbirds and 2 nets were confiscated. Together with our Italian partners, CABS haVE been organising annual bird protection camps against bird trapping on the island since 1995 and poaching has significantly declined over time. Trapping with snares has largely come to a standstill as a result of our operations. Where we used to routinely find more than 20,000 snares, today there are often fewer than 500!
Find out more about our bird protection camps in Sardinia here.
Start of our spring bird protection camps
11.03.2024
Now many migratory birds set off on their journeys to reach their breeding grounds. Unfortunately, the homeward migration is attracting poachers in the Mediterranean region. This is why our spring operations are now starting. Some teams have already been active for a few days and have already been able to stop the first bird trappers together with the police. CABS teams will be starting in Cyprus, followed by our missions in Malta, Greece and southern Italy. Despite the tense situation, we will also be active with a local team in Lebanon. We are organising a total of 9 camps until mid-May and are expecting around 60 volunteer participants from all over Europe.
You can support our efforts for migratory birds with a donation. Every penny, euro and cent helps!
Trapping remains high in Cyprus - Autumn Report 2023
06.03.2024
Today the Committee Against Bird Slaughter - CABS, BirdLife Cyprus and the RSPB have published their reports on the last autumn trapping season. All the findings conclude that wild bird poaching remains high on the island against the backdrop of downsized enforcement and lower penalties for the use of limesticks. The eNGOs make a joint call for an increased fines, stricter enforcement in the republic and to bring back the full anti-poaching unit – who deliver excellent and vital work in the ESBA.
CABS autumn report 2023 is available in the downloads and reports section of our website here.
Winter bird protection camp in Cyprus - 22 poachers convicted!
01.03.2024
After almost eight weeks, we have completed this year's winter operation in Cyprus. After a significant increase in trapping activity in mid-January with the arrival of wintering thrushes on the island, the situation calmed down again in February. Following our tip-offs, game wardens and police were able to catch a total of 22 poachers (7 bird trappers and 15 hunters who had either shot protected species or used illegal decoys). A total of 36 nets and 35 decoys were confiscated by the officers. We released 47 freshly caught birds from nets. We will be travelling back to Cyprus in a few weeks' time, when our spring mission begins.
Find out more about our campaigns and operations in Cyprus here.
Winter bird protection camp in Sardinia.
27.02.2024
In winter, birds are caught illegally with nets and snares in the forests of the Italian Mediterranean island. Strawberry trees, a Mediterranean shrub, are currently fruiting and provide plenty of food for wintering thrushes and other songbirds. The snares are usually set up by the bird trappers next to the berries or on the ground and strangle the birds as they try to reach the food. Wire snares for mammals are also regularly found. Nets are mainly set up on mountain ridges. The birds are then sold to private buyers or to butchers and restaurants. A Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) team is currently carrying out inspections in Sardinia to search for trapping sites.
Find out more about our work in Sardinia here.
Anti-poaching operations underway in northern Italy.
23.02.2024
This week, a CABS team has been deployed to the sub-alpine mountains of northern Italy, to search the difficult terrain for illegal trapping sites. At this time of year, poachers are actively targeting the influx of thrushes (mostly fieldfare) and finches such as brambling, that move in from northern Europes. The birds are trapped to be killed and eaten as a ‘seasonal delicacy’ or live trapped using huge nets or box traps, so they be caged for used as live decoys for hunting – luring others with their calls into the path of awaiting shotguns. So far, we have already identified several sites which are under investigation in close cooperation with the authorities and we will report more updates next week.
Find out more about our campaigns and operations in Italy here.
Attack on Italian nature conservation law.
16.02.2024
Despite attempts on the part of the EU to persuade Italy to implement measures against widespread poaching, the far-right political party Lega (formerly "Lega Nord") has presented a draft law that undermines nature conservation. The paper on the amendment to the hunting law includes plans to extend hunting from the current 5 to 7 days of the week (hunting is currently suspended on all Tuesdays and Fridays, which is unique in Europe) and the use of thermal imaging cameras, which are currently still prohibited. Hunting in protected areas is also to be authorised. Furthermore, the inspection of breeding rings on decoy birds could also be restricted. Together with our Italian partners, CABS has launched a campaign against the torpedoing of nature conservation law - a protest campaign is already underway.
Your donation makes the difference!
Your donation will enable us to fund our campaigns and bird protection camps throughout Europe, to keep up the fight for migratory birds. CABS is almost exclusively financed with private donations, from nature and animal lovers, as well as foundations and nature conservation associations. In order to stay independent, we do not receive public funds and we refuse business sponsorships. CABS is recognised as non-profit, thus, donations are tax-deductible. For a donation of 25 € or more, you will receive a donation receipt at the beginning of the following year.