The use of rodents is rampant in Cyprus, while the fight against bird trapping has come to a minimum, according to an announcement by the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS).
Presenting the results of the Autumn Bird Protection Tour with the support of the Pro Biopersity Foundation (SPA), CABS says that the organization's volunteers have removed with the Authorities 6.248 spears throughout 2017 and estimate that in just 60 days in the fall about 185.000 birds were likely to die on the ax found by the volunteers.
"With 64 days of field activity in the fall and over 200 days of touring throughout 2017, CABS volunteers have made a significant contribution to the fight against illegal trapping in Cyprus," it added.
As its tour focuses on only part of the island, the organization estimates that "about 15.000 woodpeckers and 200 nets were used in Cyprus last fall alone, possibly killing about 860.000 birds."
This is reported to be a real threat to local and migratory bird populations, as about 155 species of birds are affected by this illegal activity, and about half of these species are in decline or threatened.
At the same time, he added, "the involvement of the authorities in tackling the problem in the Republic has been reduced to a minimum, leaving only the organizations in the fight against this crime."
According to the organization, the Thera Fund further reduced the number of trappers arrested by just 19 cases in the fall of 2017 compared to 78 in the autumn of 2013. In addition, it reports that autumn period, thus achieving only 13 arrests in the autumn compared to 39 the previous autumn.
The organization concludes by saying that a stricter approach by the Authorities is needed to tackle this barbaric activity.
Source: KYPE