Newsroom
As the migratory game hunting season opens today, officials expect roughly 36,000 hunters to take to the fields and forests, continuing through December 28. The Game and Fauna Service, which oversees hunting regulations and wildlife management, has noted a steady decline in participation over recent years.
Petros Anayiotos, the service’s press officer, attributed the decrease primarily to modern lifestyles. “The decline in hunting is a global phenomenon, not something observed exclusively in Cyprus,” he said. “Many activities today are done from home. Platforms, video games, and even the fact that food can be delivered directly to one’s home act as inhibiting factors for outdoor activities such as hunting.”
He emphasized that lifestyle, rather than environmental concerns, is the main driver behind the trend. “This is consistent with assessments abroad,” he said.
The service estimates the number of hunters based on recent license renewals and trends observed in past years. Anayiotos added that the agency’s priority remains wildlife conservation. “We believe that if the natural environment is maintained and, over time, weather conditions improve to benefit game populations, the number of hunting licenses will also increase,” he said. He also noted that recent droughts have significantly affected local wildlife, contributing to the current decline.
Hunters are reminded to follow safety regulations, including wearing high-visibility hunting orange and exercising caution with firearms. For this season, hunting of hare, partridge, and francolin is permitted on Sundays and Wednesdays, with daily catch limits set at one hare, one francolin, and four partridges. No restrictions apply to other game species.
The Forestry Department also issued a warning about fire safety. Hunters are urged to avoid lighting fires in unauthorized areas and to properly dispose of cigarette butts and matches. Anyone spotting smoke or flames in the forest should immediately contact the nearest Forestry Station, call 1407, or reach the Fire Service at 112.
