Commission against bird slaughter (CABS) PRESS RELEASE – 12/10/2019
Today marks the 46th day of bird trapping by the biggest and most organised criminal trapper in Cyprus, in the area of Maroni, state CABS (Commission against bird slaughter) the trapping in Cyprus.
Considering that the trapping site was first confirmed as active on the 24th of August and considering that an average of 300 birds are killed in this compound each day according to the evidence collected by the RSPB; we can reasonably conclude that 13,800 birds have been killed in this single trapping compound in just the last 7 weeks.
Two of the convicted trappers leaving the orchard, one with a huge bag of illegally killed birds.
Furthermore, the site is known to everybody – including the authorities – and it has not been properly challenged or investigated for at least the last 2 years.
Despite the activity throughout the whole autumn season, the law enforcement agencies seldomly investigate this site and prosecute the owner.
The Game and Fauna Service refuse to approach the place, whereas the anti-poaching unit has never managed in the last year to make a proper prosecution on this site.
Even when they agree to make an operation there, this usually takes weeks of planning and the results are often minimal. This is basically allowing the trapper to continue the killing of thousands of birds, unperturbed during the peak period of the autumn migration season.
There is clearly something wrong with the Cyprus Police in relation to the biggest trapping site in Cyprus. CABS and the RSPB have observed several suspects trapping on full bore with more than 7 nets, electronic caller lures and catching hundreds of birds every night.
On the, 16th and 17th September, RSPB observed set nets and filmed the group trapping. The police was called and did not attend until the following day where they found nothing!!
On the 19th September again the trapping site was observed by CABS active and in full swing!! Despite 4 operations made by the police so far only 1 net and 1 bird has been found.
“We believe that the operations of the police are conducted in the wrong way or we suspect that information is being routinely leaked to the trapper” states Alexander Heyd, Director of CABS.
In another statement, Alexander Heyd says “CABS and other NGOs have been trying for three weeks to get in touch with the highest level of the Cypriot Police force to arrange a meeting about this situation.
Despite our efforts, they have so far been unable to meet and discuss our findings. It seems that they are avoiding us and are not interested in stopping this criminal or in finding out more about the suspected leak in the unit”.
Mist net rides highlighted at a notorious bird trapping site near Maroni, Cyprus (Ben Porter)
The last time the biggest trapper in Cyprus was properly targeted by police was in 2017, but the enforcement officer that coordinated the raid was subsequently moved from the unit.
CABS is always happy to cooperate with the Cyprus Police. They achieved great results against illegal bird poaching in the past, but recent events show inactiveness and an unprofessional approach, to say the least.
The Cypriot police is clearly not stepping up against bird trapping and is knowingly letting this happen without retribution.
https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/investigations/posts/illegal-bird-trapping-in-cyprus
My comment: No one has ever been imprisoned in Cyprus for illegal bird catching.
Tapped poachers are usually fined 600 euros. With a merit of up to 20,000 euros per season, a poacher can easily get over this loss.
The Cypriot bird mafia often uses a particularly insidious and highly sustainable fishing method for illegal bird catching.
In the past, they planted many acacias on the dry island that are not native to Cyprus.
Trees that the migratory birds like to use as a welcome approach station. And between these trees, the criminal poachers now tie their nets. According to experts, around 2.3 million wild birds are killed each year in Cyprus by illegal hunting.
Killed songbirds are sold via the black market to restaurants in the Republic of Cyprus, so that guests can eat the popular Cypriot specialty “Ampelopoulia”.
Criminal gangs earn hundreds of thousands of euros from this illegal activity.
A perfidious, unscrupulous, simply disgusting human parasite that owes its existence to the corrupt country politicians.
My best regards to all, Venus
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