A volunteer with the Committee Against Birds Slaughter (CABS) in Cyprus was assaulted as he was taking police from the British Bases to two mist netting sites on Tuesday night, the NGO said on their Facebook page.
They said two assaulters verbally abused the volunteer, shouted death threats and punched him in the face in front of the police officers. The volunteer was taken to Larnaca Hospital, CABS added.
A spokesperson for the British Bases confirmed an incident had taken place and said that the suspects had been identified and arrest warrants issued. “The investigation is ongoing,” the spokesperson added.
CABS general director Alex Heyd said criminal gangs were running lucrative illegal businesses without anyone attempting to stop them.
The NGO has nevertheless managed to detect 25 cases of bird trapping only in this month and to report to police in Paralimni two persons for illegal trapping and five for illegal hunting.
The fines range from €200 to €1,000, according to the Game and Fauna Service who successfully caught the trappers red-handed, CABS in Cyprus added.
The NGO said Cyprus authorities were failing dismally in the fight against illegal bird trapping. It also criticised a decision to dismantle the Anti-Poaching Squad of the Cyprus Police and asked the Government to restore a strongly manned and professional APS, which it said seems to be the only weapon that trappers fear.
In a second post, CABS said teams had decided to patrol the Paphos area after receiving a tip off and had found and dismantled a net.
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https://in-cyprus.com/cabs-in-cyprus-frees-trapped-birds-video/
