Komitee gegen den Vogelmord e.V. Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS)

Komitee gegen den Vogelmord e. V.
Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS)

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Who we are, what we do...

Compassion at work: taking care of a robin rescued from a trap
Compassion at work: taking care of a robin rescued from a trap

The Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) is a charitable Non-Governmental Organisation working to protect migratory birds from illegal poaching and over exploitation. We are an activist association with a lean administration based from our Head office in Bonn, Germany. We have no subdivisions and are a built on a coalition of supporter members who enable our work and volunteers who can react quickly, often in arduous circumstances. When we identify an issue, we don't set up working groups or commissions, we don't hold conferences - we simply take direct action! It is this approach which we have taken since  CABS formation in 1975 and we have achieved a great deal. 

Our aim is to put an end to wild bird hunting - with shotguns as well as trapping with various traps or nets. We intervene where trappers, hunters or traders violate nature conservation laws. All our actions are carried out in close cooperation with environmental authorities, the police, regulatory agencies and/or customs offices. Most government agencies lack staff and specialist knowledge to effectively enforce nature conservation laws against criminal bird poachers and traders. With decades of experience fighting conservation crimes, in more than 15 countries, our staff and experts help authorities with current actions and report hundreds of new cases each year.

A CABS volunteer rescues a Blackcap from a net (Cyprus)
A CABS volunteer rescues a Blackcap from a net (Cyprus)

Hunting and trapping are not the only threats migratory bird face. Intensive agriculture, habitat degradation, climate change and environmental poisoning are also significant threats. However, as specialists in anti-poaching, we focus on our small field of activity, in which we are unique in Europe and perhaps the world.

In all areas, we work together with local partner organisations. Anyone who fights against "old traditions" must be aware of the respective local sensitivities. Where we do not have our own staff, we support the activities of our partner associations financially and make our many years of experience available. We have built up a network of poaching experts throughout the Mediterranean region, through which we carefully coordinate our actions and missions.

CABS sees itself as a European nature conservation federation. As our country of origin, the majority of our donors are from Germany (although we are keen to be seen as an international group), the majority of the active members come from Italy and Great Britain; we work primarily in the Mediterranean region and our central contact for all questions of bird protection is the European Commission, as guardian of the EU Birds Directive. 

Finally, it is important to say that we firmly reject national or racist resentments towards the states and people of the Mediterranean region.