Subject: [Oversea] Call for action against illegal bird trapping in Cyprus [Print This Page] Author: Eva Time: 22/09/2011 11:20 Subject: Call for action against illegal bird trapping in Cyprus
TENS OF THOUSANDS of migrant birds are being illegally slaughtered in Cyprus annually to feed an appetite for illegal “ambelopoulia” delicacies. Trappers using limesticks and mist nets are making huge profits while threatening Europe’s natural heritage. You can help generate the political will to end this indiscriminate killing by signing BirdLife Cyprus’s petition to relevant Ministers.
Bird trapping in Cyprus has been taking place for many years. It began as a way of supplementing what was once a meager peasant diet. This is no longer the case. Trapping in Cyprus has become a large-scale, high-tech, lucrative business run by criminals. Trapped birds are usually supplied to restaurants that are illegally serving them - a dozen of trapped birds could be sold up to 80 euros. The competent authorities estimate this illegal business to be of the order of 15 million euros per year. The large scale and non selective nature of illegal trapping in Cyprus constitutes an ecological disaster.
395 587 THIS NUMBER represents the BirdLife Cyprus estimate for how many birds have been slaughtered by trappers using mist nets and limesticks between September 1st and September 18th 2011.
This shocking picture of a Fan-tailed warbler caught on a limestick, taken by team of BirdLife Cyprus at 20 September 2011…and ask everyone and anyone to sign the petition and tell all their friends…this has to stop!!!
