BirdLife Cyprus reports that approximately 620,000 wild birds were trapped and killed in the autumn of 2024 within their survey area.
This is attributed to a lack of law enforcement, fueling a resurgence in bird trapping activities.
While overall trapping levels across Cyprus remained steady, stark differences were observed between the two jurisdictions.
In the Republic of Cyprus, net trapping surged by 76% compared to autumn 2023, primarily due to unchecked activities of organized trappers.
However, the British Bases saw a 22% reduction in net trapping, thanks to effective law enforcement measures.
The NGO praised the Base Police’s reinforcement of the Anti-Poaching Unit with additional personnel, highlighting that sufficient resources can yield significant results in combating illegal activities.