BirdLife, CABS shut out as parliament debates poaching, targeting activists

Local animal welfareelamenvironmentparliamentpoachingTop News BirdLife, CABS shut out as parliament debates poaching, targeting activists Birdlife, Cabs Shut Out As Parliament Debates Poaching, Targeting Activists Relevant News BirdLife, CABS shut out as parliament debates poaching, targeting activists 16 September 2026 Larnaca hospital nurses walk out, cite burnout and overcrowding 16 September 2026 Sandy case: Drousiotis, Kyriakou in court over 101 charges today 16 September 2026 Angelos Nicolaou 16 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber BirdLife Cyprus and the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) — the two organisations most active in exposing and reporting illegal bird trapping on the island — have been excluded from a parliamentary Environment Committee debate to be held on Wednesday on the activity of activist organisations and hunters’ rights, even though the discussion concerns wildlife protection work in the field. BirdLife and CABS accuse ELAM of political manoeuvring aimed at weakening anti-poaching controls. Tensions rose sharply on the eve of the debate, with environmental organisations and the Cyprus Hunting Federation clashing over the role of “volunteer inspectors” and the limits of legality in the Cypriot countryside. The Committee’s stance adds to warnings previously issued by CABS, which has said coordinated operations between NGOs, police and the Game and Fauna Service form the backbone of the fight against poaching. In last autumn’s campaign alone, CABS’s work led to 55 convictions of poachers and the release of more than 1,200 protected birds. Following CABS’s strong reaction, BirdLife Cyprus said it had not only been left off the list of invitees but that its request to attend and present its views had been rejected by the Committee — the first time this has happened in the Association’s 24 years of active work. BirdLife said that recording and formally reporting wildlife crimes is a pillar of a democratic society, and that if an activist breaks the law, responsibility lies with law enforcement authorities, not parliamentary restrictions. It said the fact that the only two civil society bodies collecting evidence, conducting patrols and formally reporting illegal trapping to the authorities — police and the Game and Fauna Service — were not invited raises serious questions about the purpose of the session. For its part, the Cyprus Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Federation (KOK & DAZ) said the problem of harassment is not new, and that it has identified, reported and highlighted the issue for years. According to KOK & DAZ, acts of obstruction or intimidation against citizens legally exercising their right to hunt create dangerous tensions in the Cypriot countryside and directly endanger the safety of everyone involved. KOK & DAZ also set out its position on poaching: “Our position is timeless and clear. We condemn all illegal hunting activity and support the effective enforcement of the law. In a state governed by the rule of law, however, exclusive responsibility for control and law enforcement lies with the Police, the Game and Fauna Service and the competent state authorities. No group and no private individual can substitute for the state.” Read more: Environmental group accuses ELAM of trying to criminalise activism Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Larnaca hospital nurses walk out, cite burnout and overcrowding Sandy case: Drousiotis, Kyriakou in court over 101 charges today Cypriot woman honoured for decades of tackling child exploitation: ‘Believe your children’ Things to do on Wednesday, September 16 Unsettled weather expected on Wednesday as temperatures set to drop “No to deadly antennas”: Akrotiri residents protest planned installation (photos) Overnight pharmacies on Tuesday, September 15 Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.