Newsroom
A sweeping two-month crackdown on illegal bird hunting in Cyprus has led to the conviction of 55 suspects and fines totalling €239,770, according to the Committee Against Animal Slaughter (CABS).
In a statement Thursday, the NGO said that between September 10 and November 25, two to four field teams were out every day across known hotspots. The teams, made up of experienced volunteers and environmentalists from across Europe, worked alongside police and the Game and Fauna Service to spot active traps, report offenders, and help free any live birds caught in nets or glue sticks.
According to CABS, the joint operations resulted in the conviction of 35 trappers and 20 hunters caught breaking Cyprus’ hunting laws.
Authorities seized or destroyed a substantial amount of illegal equipment: 1,547 glue sticks, 137 mist nets, and 89 electronic decoys used to lure birds. Volunteers also helped police and game wardens rescue 1,286 birds found alive in traps, including hundreds of protected blackcaps, the top target for local poachers, as well as birds from 22 other protected species such as reed warblers, nightingales, scops owls, and wrynecks.
CABS said the fines issued this autumn against suspects identified through its reports reached nearly €240,000.
The NGO welcomed what it described as strong cooperation and quick action from police and game wardens. This year’s operations, it added, sent a clear message to poachers: “Nobody is above the law, and those caught will face the consequences.”
