The Animal Party has called for stricter controls on exotic animals following a recent kangaroo butchering case in Deryneia.
In a statement released today, the party said it has been warning authorities for years about the need for preventative measures regarding exotic and wild animals entering Cyprus.
The party highlighted the presence of animals like elephants and Siberian tigers in zoos that are unsuitable for Cyprus’s climate and pose risks to local biodiversity. “Invasive animals can disrupt the island’s fragile ecosystem,” the statement noted.
Following the kangaroo incident, the party raised several questions:
- How long had the facility keeping kangaroos been granted permission by veterinary services, given that such animals are strictly prohibited
- The status of wild animals kept in zoos that have no connection to Cyprus’s natural fauna
- What controls exist at entry points regarding legal and illegal imports of such animals
- How effectively veterinary services monitor illegal backyard slaughters
- How veterinary services respond to information about illegal distribution of kosher meat (involving slaughter without anaesthesia)
The case involves two foreign nationals who allegedly obtained a kangaroo from a Greek Cypriot-owned farm in the free Famagusta area before butchering it in an apartment complex car park last Tuesday.
A 36-year-old man remains in custody while a second suspect is still being sought. Veterinary services will conduct a post-mortem examination on Monday to determine whether the animal was killed on site.
Read more:
