Political reaction to attack on bird activists ‘regrettable’

CAMPAIGNERS yesterday criticised deputies for failure to condemn an attack on activists who were dismantling bird trapping gear from various areas in the Famagusta district.

The foreign activists were attacked and viciously beaten by several individuals while they were collecting limseticks – used to trap birds – from trees.

“The incident has also brought a deeply regrettable reaction from many local leaders, and MPs from the trapping heartland of Famagusta in particular,” BirdLife Cyprus said in a statement. “Rather than condemning the attack and calling for a renewed effort to stamp out trapping – which has been on a steep upward rise for the last three years – MPs and others have lined up to condemn the battered activists.”

But While BirdLife Cyprus never adopts activist tactics, we share in the frustration of the visiting activists, who are outraged at Cyprus’ inability to put an end to the indiscriminate and highly lucrative use of nets and limesticks.

Birds trapped using mist nets and limesticks are sold to restaurants as ambelopoulia delicacies, fetching trappers thousands of euros in profits.

To add insult to the injury of this tacit support for trapping, many of the key habitats for migrant birds in Cyprus remain highly threatened, BirdLife said.

Authorities have even failed to act to protect sites that have been officially designated as part of the EU network of Natura 2000 sites – priority sites that should be managed for conservation. Paralimni Lake, Oroklini marsh and Akamas are prime examples of this failure, the organisation said.