With an estimated 2,3 million birds killed in Cyprus in autumn 2016, the Cyprus Bird Association stresses the urgent need for action by both the Republic of Cyprus and the British Base Administration.
According to an announcement, the latest findings of the continuous and systematic monitoring program of Ptinologiko for illegal trapping show that 21 kilometers of nets were active in autumn 2016 within the field research area covering areas in Larnaca-Famagusta and Agios Theodoros-Maroni.
Based on the field data of the Avian Administration, it is estimated that almost 2,3 million birds may have been killed in Cyprus in autumn 2016. “Illegal bird trapping is a serious and persistent problem in both the Republic of Cyprus and the British Bases. "In the Republic of Cyprus, the use of roosters is widespread and there are restaurants that illegally offer vine birds, while in the British Bases there is extensive trapping with nets as well as extensive use of sound-imitating devices that lead the birds to their death", it is noted.
Extensive trapping with nets, it is reported, is further confirmed by the fight statistics, where for the months August - October 2016 the law enforcement authorities seized more than 850 nets, the highest number of nets seized in the last 6 years. As for the spies, the law enforcement authorities confiscated a total of more than 3,500.
The Bird Association is committed to continuing to monitor this persistent problem and to take further action at various levels to address it, while calling on all relevant authorities to urgently demonstrate a firm 'zero tolerance' policy against illegal bird trapping.