Cyprus authorities issued 55 convictions and €239,770 in fines for bird poaching between 10 September and 25 November, according to the Committee Against Animal Slaughter (CABS). The NGO released the details on Wednesday, highlighting the scale of the autumn operations.
CABS said two to four teams worked in the field every day during the period. The teams included experienced activists and environmentalists from across Europe. Their mission was to locate and report active traps, support officers in identifying offenders, and help free trapped protected birds.
Environmentalists, police members, and wardens from the Game and Fauna Service carried out 75 joint operations. These actions led to the conviction of 35 trappers and 20 hunters for breaching hunting regulations.
During the operations, authorities seized or destroyed 1,547 limesticks, 137 nets, and 89 electronic bird-calling devices. CABS teams also helped free 1,286 live birds found stuck to limesticks or caught in nets. Many were protected blackcaps — the main target of local poachers. Birds from 22 other protected species were also rescued, including reed warblers, nightingales, scops owls, and wrynecks.
The organisation said the fines issued following CABS reports reached €239,770 this autumn.
CABS expressed satisfaction with the cooperation of the Police and the Game and Fauna Service. It said this year’s efforts sent a clear message that “no one is above the law, and anyone caught must face the consequences of their actions.”
Also read: British activists clash with Cypriot trappers over ambelopoulia
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