Police and veterinary services are investigating a case involving the slaughter of a kangaroo, which two men were spotted butchering in an apartment building car park in Deryneia last Tuesday.
A 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene, while a second person who fled the area was still being sought as of yesterday afternoon, according to authorities.
Famagusta police are working to determine where the men obtained the kangaroo, while veterinary services will conduct a post-mortem examination to verify whether the animal was slaughtered on site. Officials noted that the suspects reportedly intended to consume the animal’s meat.
The case came to light when police, responding to a complaint, found plastic bags containing butchered kangaroo parts, an axe and five knives in the car park. The 36-year-old was arrested immediately and during questioning claimed he had received the animal from another person in the Paralimni area.
He was subsequently taken to Deryneia Police Station where it was discovered he was residing illegally in Cyprus after his asylum application was rejected in 2022. The suspect, who has been remanded in custody for eight days, faces charges including subjecting an animal to pain, suffering, injury or fear, causing an animal to suffer a horrific death, possessing a prohibited animal and illegal residence in the Republic.
The post-mortem on the animal will be conducted on Monday due to the absence of the laboratory supervisor, senior veterinary officer Ioannis Ioannou told Phileleftheros. The examination is deemed necessary as “there are contradictory testimonies regarding where the animal was slaughtered,” he said.
“If it is determined that the animal was alive and then slaughtered, this constitutes a criminal offence. In Cyprus, we occasionally have illegal slaughters of animals such as sheep and goats, but I cannot recall a case involving a kangaroo,” Ioannou noted. He clarified that consuming kangaroo meat is not prohibited in Cyprus, provided it is imported as food from approved facilities.
“In Cyprus, we only have approved slaughterhouses for cattle, sheep and goats, rabbits and pigs, as well as poultry slaughterhouses. Slaughter of any other animal is prohibited,” he added.
Legislation also prohibits both the possession and sale of live kangaroos, which raises further questions about this case. “Before 2021, because there was no legislative regulation, such animals were brought to Cyprus. In 2021, regulations were passed that provided a transitional period for declaring these animals, which has long since passed. We appeal to those who have such animals and are not deliberately hiding them but due to ignorance, to go to the provincial Veterinary Offices and make their declarations. It’s better to declare them now, which will act as a mitigating factor,” Ioannou said.
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