Relevant News

The issue of Mia Milia is becoming clearer…

21 October 2024

Meloni shows the way and Ursula is applauds

21 October 2024

Inflation decreases, but economic growth is also slowing down

21 October 2024

Newsroom

21 October 2024

Wildlife officials have raised alarm over the continued threat of illegal bird trapping to the island’s avian population, with over 150 species known to have been caught in nets and limesticks.

Nikos Kasinis, a senior official at the Game and Fauna Service, told philenews that the term “collateral damage” aptly describes the unintended capture of non-target species in these indiscriminate trapping methods.

According to Kasinis, more than one-third of the affected species (58) are of conservation concern.

He cited a recent incident where two barn owls (Tyto alba) were found caught in limesticks in the Larnaca district. The birds were rescued, cleaned of the sticky substance, and released.

Kasinis highlighted the irony of the situation, noting that one of the rescued barn owls had been ringed by the Game and Fauna Service as part of conservation efforts.

These efforts include installing artificial nests across Cyprus to boost owl populations for natural rodent control.

The official revealed that all owl species nesting in Cyprus have fallen victim to these trapping methods.

This includes the endemic Cyprus scops owl (Otus cyprius), the little owl (Athene noctua) – associated with the goddess Athena, and the long-eared owl (Asio otus).

Kasinis emphasised that this activity is not a “tradition” but an illegal practice driven by profit. He stressed that it poses a significant threat to Cyprus’s natural heritage and should be treated as such.

The most severe case reported was that of a young Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata) caught in a limestick in Larnaca. Despite care efforts, the bird did not survive due to stress and exhaustion.

Read more:

Illegal songbird trapping surges 90% in Cyprus, conservationists warn