The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) is facing criticism from the Game and Fauna Service following the electrocution deaths of two vultures this month, raising concerns about inadequate insulation of power lines.
The Service sent a letter to EAC on 20 March 2025, following the incidents on 7 and 18 March in the Korfes community area of Limassol province. The deaths involve the most endangered bird species in Cyprus.
The EAC has been installing special insulating materials and anti-collision equipment on medium-voltage pylons in areas designated by the Service to prevent electrocution and collisions of large birds, and to reduce the risk of electricity-related fires. Anti-collision equipment is also being fitted to high-voltage lines. These actions are funded by the European “Life Bonelli EastMed” and “Life With Vultures” programmes, aimed at conserving the Bonelli’s eagle in the Eastern Mediterranean and rescuing the griffon vulture in Cyprus, respectively.
However, the Service letter highlights that the recent vulture deaths exacerbate worries about the proper insulation of power transmission lines. The agency noted that previous years have also seen confirmed vulture deaths from both collisions with cables and electrocution. Game and Fauna Service data shows that out of 46 recorded vulture deaths, nine were due to electrocution and two from cable collisions. The current vulture population in Cyprus stands at 34.
Despite repeated warnings and calls for immediate action, the Service stated that the EAC’s inaction and delays have led to this “tragic situation”. The Korfes area hosts a vulture colony used for breeding, making protection measures critical. The Service is demanding the correct insulation of transmission lines and suggests replacing cables with XLPE-type conductors, which offer better safety and reduce the risk of electrocution.
The EAC’s “indifference” appears to be a recurring issue, as this is not the first instance of vulture deaths linked to its network. The Service recalled the death of a vulture in April 2022 at “Paoura” in the Kelokedara community of Paphos province, and the subsequent failure to take action, accusing the EAC of failing to implement appropriate measures.
The problem extends to other areas of Cyprus, where the application of insulation on pylons is reportedly inadequate, leaving dangerous sections of cables exposed. In the Moniatis area, for example, insulation was found to be improperly installed, leaving uncovered points that endanger birds of prey. Similar issues have been recorded in other areas, such as Maroni community and the “Dipotamos” site in Larnaca province’s Lefkara municipality, where insulating tapes are deteriorating or unwrapping.
The Service stressed that this situation also affects other protected species, such as the Bonelli’s eagle and the long-legged buzzard, which are particularly attracted to pylons with transformers that lack insulation. The agency demands the immediate replacement of dangerous cables in the Korfes area with insulated XLPE conductors and proposes the undergrounding of the power line in the Agios Ioannis area.
In conclusion, the Service emphasised that the protection of endangered bird species must be a priority for the EAC and urged the organisation to take immediate necessary measures to prevent further deaths of vultures and other protected species, as well as to reduce the risk of fires caused by the poor application of insulating materials.
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