Officials from the Sovereign Base Area Police’s specialist anti-bird trapping team have confirmed that they have dedicated more resources than ever before to combat the issue.
During the Ambelopoulia and Thrush poaching seasons, the Community Action Team (CAT) revealed that police officials bolstered their numbers by employing up to 10 military personnel on daily operations.
Between August and March, key months for poaching, this led to up to 16 personnel, including police specialists, working daily in the Dhekelia region to combat illegal bird trapping.
The strengthened team collaborated on seven operations with Bird Life Cyprus and 32 with the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS).
Chief Inspector Pertev Karagozlou shared during a recent task force meeting, attended by Bases Administration officials, Bird Life Cyprus, and CABS, that the crime has been reduced by 94 per cent since the implementation of an action plan in 2016.
“Since we developed our Anti-bird Trapping Action Plan in 2016, we have worked tirelessly to overcome what has been a historical problem on the island,” said Karagozlou.
“Having reviewed our statistics for the past season, bird trapping has still been reduced by close to 100 per cent when compared to pre-2016 levels.”
Acknowledging a slight statistical increase in bird trapping over the past year, Karagozlou explained, “When you have a near 100 per cent reduction in anything, one case can drastically change the statistics. In fact, we have had a much larger team out on the ground than we have ever had in the past, which means we are able to cover a much wider area and arrest trappers that may have gone undetected previously.”
During the 2023-2024 season, the SBA Police made 14 arrests, including 10 for illegal bird trapping and four for the attempted transportation of Ambelopoulia from the Turkish Controlled Areas. A further 10 cases remain under investigation.
Karagozlou issued a warning to bird trappers, confirming the SBA Police’s intent to increase fines for the illegal activity.
“I have heard talk of reducing the fines for bird trapping but I can categorically state that is not our intention. In fact, we will be looking at increasing the fines for those caught, as financial punishments act as a significant deterrent.”
Currently, fines for possession and use of a mistnet stand at €2,000, with an additional €500 for every extra net found.
Possession of a live or dead bird carries a €2,000 fine, with a further €100 for each additional bird. Using lime sticks incurs a €2,000 fine, with an additional €10 for each stick.
“Whilst it is clear the fines are already large, we are always looking to do more,” Karagozlou stated.
“Every case can also be forwarded to court, where, depending on its severity, the judge could sentence an individual with up to three years in prison.”
Looking ahead, the police are confident of securing extra funding over the next year to implement new technology, including improved surveillance equipment, updated drones, and cameras.
