Record 1.4 million migratory birds killed in Cyprus
A record 1.4 million migratory birds were illegally trapped and killed over the key autumn season to feed an illicit Cypriot taste for such delicacies, a conservationist group say.
A survey by Birdlife Cyprus carried out between September and October 2010 showed more than a million birds were indiscriminately killed with mist nets and limesticks.
“The picture emerging from autumn 2010 is one of a bird trapping disaster on a scale unseen since Birdlife’s monitoring work began almost 10 years ago,” said a Birdlife statement.
Autumn trapping levels have been on a general upward trend for four years while mist netting levels are at a nine-year high according to the group. It said the figures showed a “serious failure” on the part of both Cypriot authorities and British Sovereign Base Areas where illegal trappings are rife.
“As EU Member States both obligations under the EU Birds Directive to protect birds, and migrant birds in particular,” said Birdlife. It said a clampdown on restaurants was needed to prevent Cyprus revisiting the 1990s when up to 10 million birds were killed.
A huge crackdown on trappers and restaurants was enforced before Cyprus joined the European Union in May 2004, but now conservationists say the government lacks the political will to eradicate the trade.
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