Over 400,000 songbirds were killed in Cyprus last autumn, according to a report compiled by BirdLife Cyprus, backed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS).
The report notes a resurgence in wildlife crime, which has been linked to organised crime networks that cunningly employ decoys and birdsong recordings to ensnare birds.
The captured birds find themselves ensnared in “mist” nets or ensnared by glue-coated branches, only to be clandestinely sold to eateries where they are served as “ambelopoulia,” a traditional Cypriot dish featuring pickled or boiled songbirds.
The report found that 435,000 birds were killed in this manner during the autumn of 2023 alone. Although there has been a general downward trend in bird trapping over the last decade, the figures from last year indicated a distressing increase of 90,000 birds compared to 2022.
Martin Hellicar, the director of BirdLife Cyprus, told the Guardian: “Despite the very good progress made in recent years, this autumn was a reminder that this can be quickly reversed if enforcement resources are not maintained.”
Cyprus serves as a critical migratory waypoint for numerous bird species journeying from their European breeding grounds to winter habitats in Africa. Targeted species include blackcaps, flycatchers, and warblers, many of which are experiencing significant declines in the UK.
Despite the illegality of trapping songbirds for consumption since 1974 in Cyprus, the practice persists on an industrial level. The early 2000s saw annual captures exceeding 2 million birds, with the 1990s witnessing over 10 million fatalities. In response, Cypriot authorities, in collaboration with BirdLife Cyprus, CABS, and the RSPB, have been striving to mitigate these numbers.
A notable increase in bird trapping was observed within the British military’s Sovereign Base Area (SBA) in Cyprus, where net usage exceeded 4.5km. The report highlighted a significant rise in trapping activities within the SBA, attributing it to reduced anti-poaching resources at the onset of the 2023 trapping season.
In statements to the Guardian, Mark Thomas, RSPB’s head of investigations, criticised the minimal risks faced by trappers despite their substantial profits, calling for sustained police efforts to suppress bird trapping.
“For two decades, our international partnership has shown that we can work together to tackle this criminal activity through direct action on the ground backed up by enforcement action,” he said. “However, this autumn shows that more still needs to be done, particularly in the Republic of Cyprus,” Thomas added.
