Professional poachers deliberately refuse to pay out-of-court fines so that their cases go to court, where penalties are often far lower and can be paid off at 50 euros a month. Sofoklis Ionas, commander of the police Rapid Response Unit (MMAD), told parliament’s environment committee this on Wednesday.
At the same session, committee chairman Linos Papagiannis, an ELAM parliament member, handed police officers lawyers’ complaints against activists from the bird protection group CABS for investigation. Environmental groups told the committee they were being targeted.
Melpo Apostolidou, director of BirdLife Cyprus, told the committee that illegal bird trapping brings in more than 10 million euros a year. An estimated 726,000 birds are trapped annually, she said.
Penalties and policing
Pantelis Hadjigeros, head of the Game and Fauna Service, gave the example of a group in Androlykou that poaches hares every night and sells them alive. Despite complaints, the group has carried on, because fines are treated as no more than an “operating cost”, he said.
Assistant Police Chief Michalis Katsounotos said complaints were examined wherever they came from. He said the police anti-poaching squad could be reinforced with non-permanent staff. In cases of systematic illegal activity, he said, authorities should push for the confiscation of assets.
Complaints against activists
Papagiannis based his case on court proceedings. He said an activist had admitted under oath while testifying that he was paid per case and would be out of a job if he stopped.
Linos Hadjigeorgiou, also an ELAM parliament member, raised security concerns. He asked whether there had been cases of activists flying drones, even over army camps.
Kleanthis Koutsoftas, deputy mayor of Paralimni, said residents were worried and afraid. “People are being spotted moving on private property with specialist equipment and cameras that even the Game Service doesn’t have. This creates a sense of insecurity and amounts to harassment,” he said.
Angelos Pitsillides of the Cyprus Hunting Federation said hunters in England are given clear instructions on how to deal with activists. He said there had been dangerous situations in which activists tried to grab guns, even loaded ones.
Environmental groups respond
Koula Michael, executive director of Terra Cypria, said anyone breaking the law should face the consequences. She said the anti-poaching unit had examined 44 cases in 2025 following complaints from activists, and that members of environmental groups taken to court had been acquitted.
Marina Grigoriou of the Federation of Environmental Organisations of Cyprus (OPOK) warned against the collective targeting of activists. “Lawful activism highlights general issues and does not need controlling,” she said.
Apostolidou said nobody was above the law and defended her group’s cooperation with the authorities. She said BirdLife Cyprus had provided information for 79 reports to police, which led to 25 prosecutions and arrests in serious cases, including the use of electronic bird callers and illegal trapping with multiple nets.
