Illegal Bird Trapping on British Bases in Cyprus Significantly Reduced

Illegal bird trapping within the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) in Cyprus dropped by 5% last year, bringing the total reduction since 2016 to an impressive 97%. Authorities say they remain committed to combating this practice and bringing offenders to justice.

According to Phanos Christodoulou, head of the SBA’s anti-bird trapping unit, enforcement efforts are being carried out in close collaboration with BirdLife Cyprus and the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS).

Christodoulou emphasized that bird trapping is a serious environmental crime, and his team will continue to fight it using every available tool, including drones, hidden cameras, and night vision equipment.

So far in 2024, SBA police have made nine arrests related to bird trapping. In 2023, 13 arrests were made, compared to 47 in 2016 when the crackdown first began.

Despite the decline, the use of mist nets and limesticks to trap birds remains a significant concern. Once captured, the birds are often sold to restaurants or individuals, making illegal bird trapping a lucrative underground trade.

A 2016 BirdLife International report listed Cyprus among the top five Mediterranean countries with the highest levels of illegal bird killing, with most violations occurring in the Larnaca and Famagusta areas.