When bird trappers set out limesticks and fine nets, they aren’t just after songbirds – they create deadly, invisible hazards for every creature in their path. During recent field operations in Cyprus, our Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) teams uncovered the heartbreaking reality of by-catch when we discovered three helpless owls ensnared at illegal trapping sites.
In the south-east, two endemic Cyprus Scops Owls were found tangled in illegal mist-nets. Meanwhile, near the southern town of Zygi, our team found a Barn Owl pinned down by its wing after striking glue-coated limesticks. It is a newly ringed juvenile born just this spring, likely exploring the island to establish its very first territory.
Thanks to the rapid response of our team, all three owls were meticulously cleaned, checked for injuries, and safely released back into the wild!
Keeping the pressure on, enforcement officers from the Game & Fauna Service intervened, seizing 150 limesticks across the sites. One offender has already been slapped with a €2,200 fine.
Illegal trapping is a non-selective threat to our wildlife, but dedicated field teams are making sure poachers face the consequences. Help us spread the word about protecting Cyprus’s natural heritage!
