The shooting of two emblematic birds of prey, which were found injured in the Cypriot countryside in just a few days, is condemned in a joint statement by the Hunting and Fauna Service (BPF) and the Bird Association (BirdLife Cyprus).
"We recognize that no conscientious hunter would fall so low and tarnish the name of the hunting community, but unfortunately there seem to be those isolated incidents, the result of irresponsible behavior, which does not represent the Cypriot hunting community," they note.
The Diplosiachino, which was found in the Macheira forest and handed over to the Hunting and Fauna Service, reportedly suffered a wing injury, which, as confirmed by the x-ray, was caused by a shotgun.
They note that the bird underwent surgery and is receiving the necessary care at the Wildlife Care and Rehabilitation Center of the Ministry of Wildlife until it is ready to be released into the wild again.
"Diplogerako, on the other hand, who was in Avdimou, did not seem so lucky, as he left his last breath a few minutes after he was located. Although the cause of death has not been determined, the x-ray also showed shrapnel in various parts of his body. "The Hunting and Fauna Service and the Ptinologikos call on the citizens to report such incidents, so that the offenders face the consequences of their actions, so that neither the wildlife nor the conscientious hunters 'pay' for it", they add.
In addition, they report that for complaints, citizens should contact the Hunting and Fauna Service at the following mobile phones: Nicosia 99445697, Limassol 99445728, Larnaca / Famagusta 99634325, Paphos 99445679.
They note, finally, that the out-of-court fine for shooting endangered protected birds is € 16.000, while killing other protected birds is punishable by € 2.000.
Party for the Animals of Cyprus
Meanwhile, the Party for the Animals of Cyprus condemns, in a statement, the shooting of emblematic birds and calls on the Ministry of Interior - Thera Service to do everything possible to identify the culprit of this murder.
The Party for the Animals of Cyprus demands that all those investigations and procedures be carried out, such as a ballistic check, in any way in which the perpetrator or perpetrators of this murder could be identified.
"So an opportunity to emphasize the need to create an information database where all these cases will be registered and either in the medium or long term through the comparisons and examinations of these cases, to identify the perpetrators and killers of innocent animals and birds. "Gentlemen, we do not have the luxury and we are no longer entitled to shrink the fauna of our country with such illegal acts", he concludes.
Source: KYPE