Tri-Service

"Illegal Poaching of Cyprus Songbirds Reaches Record Levels"

The number of songbirds being illegally trapped and killed by poachers at a British military base in Cyprus has reached record levels, according to conservation charities.

The RSPB's international partner, Birdlife Cyprus, estimates that almost one million birds were caught during the poaching season of September and October.

However the MoD disputes the figures, saying:

"We do not accept the report’s unverified claims about loss of bird life during this period, which was based upon data collected from a very short period.

"We are committed to tackling poaching, which is why we arrested nearly 50 poachers and seized 450 nets and 286 piece of poaching equipment during the last migration period.

"When we catch poachers we can fine them €17,000 [£12,000] or send them to prison for up to three years. We continue to work with local organisations to discuss how we can work as effectively as possible.”

Last year Forces TV's Carla Prater joined the British military on the island on a major clearance operation to see the scale of the problem of illegal bird trapping.

Cover photo courtesy of Kev Chapman via Wikimedia Commons.