Authorities may kill Paphos stray forest dogs threatening mouflons and visitors

Local animal welfaredogsTop News Authorities may kill Paphos stray forest dogs threatening mouflons and visitors Stray Dog Paphos Relevant News Cyprus home sales rise 3.8% in 2025, Eurostat data shows 6 July 2026 Authorities may kill Paphos stray forest dogs threatening mouflons and visitors 6 July 2026 Twenty-five dead, 100 injured in clashes at Sri Lanka prison, sources say 6 July 2026 Angelos Nicolaou 6 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Forest Department director Savvas Iezekiel convened an inter-service meeting today to tackle stray dogs in the Paphos state forest. The department says the dogs are attacking the protected Cyprus mouflon, chasing wildlife and endangering visitors and staff. The department wrote to a series of authorities, including the Police Chief, the Game and Fauna Service, the Veterinary Services and the District Local Government Organisations of Nicosia, Limassol and Paphos, asking them to take part. The department’s letter, dated June 23, 2026, said the problem has become especially serious, directly affecting an area of the highest ecological and management importance. It raised particular concern over threats to the protected mouflon, saying the uncontrolled presence of dogs was causing ongoing disturbance and chasing of wild animals. The letter also flagged risks to the safety of visitors and staff who move through the forest daily. It raised public health concerns too, since stray dogs carry serious zoonotic diseases such as echinococcosis. The issue is linked to the welfare of the dogs themselves, the department said, as well as potential abandonment by owners, checks on ownership, the collection of strays, their temporary custody and further management by the relevant authorities. Monday’s meeting is not meant to be a routine procedural discussion. Its aim, the letter said, is to establish a common, practical and workable framework for managing such incidents, rather than addressing individual cases in isolation. Officials want a clear procedure that can be applied directly in the field, backed by defined roles and points of contact for each service. Existing legislation already lets the Police and the Game and Fauna Service kill stray animals at their own discretion, under the strict condition that immediate and uncontrolled damage to wildlife or livestock premises has been established. The Forest Department wants to activate, and in some cases systematise, these procedures in the Paphos forest too, seeking to have dogs proven to pose a threat put down to halt damage to the forest ecosystem. Recording the current situationOfficials will review the existing situation and documented attacks to date. Reporting and notification proceduresThey will also set out a clear reporting process and immediate notification chain for the relevant authorities. Roles of each serviceThe meeting will clarify who does what: the Police, the Game and Fauna Service and the Veterinary Services will each get defined roles depending on the incident. Collection and temporary custodyOfficials will agree a procedure for collecting, transporting and temporarily housing the animals involved. Checks on ownershipThe meeting will also cover checks on microchipping, ownership and possible abandonment of the dogs. Handling dangerous or injured dogsOfficials will set out how to handle dangerous, injured or aggressive dogs. Preventing abandonmentThey will also discuss preventive measures to curb abandonment of animals in the forest by irresponsible owners. Informing the publicThe Forest Department plans to inform neighbouring communities and the wider public once the framework is agreed. Read more: Pack of stray dogs decimated cat colony in Pedieos linear park Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Cyprus home sales rise 3.8% in 2025, Eurostat data shows Twenty-five dead, 100 injured in clashes at Sri Lanka prison, sources say Trump intervention causes World Cup storm as FIFA clears US striker Balogun to face Belgium Erhürman says lawsuits cannot resolve Cyprus property issue Police near end of probe into officer’s attempted murder of partner; victim critical but stable Dive into culture with Xylophagou Fish Festival State funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.