Bird slaughter: sick bird killers caught by secret cameras

The conservation charity released details of three of the operations – codenamed Jasmin, Jar and Jumbo – which saw a total of eight men receiving fines totalling 13,800 euros. Two also

received suspended prison sentences. Operation Jar took place within a large patch of acacia containing several active trapping sites, with the covert camera showing three men beating the

bushes with long poles. The footage recorded more than 25 birds being caught and killed from the main net over three days. In Operation Jasmin, covert cameras were set up on two sites and

showed up to three men involved in bird trapping on two days. They were recorded shouting in order to flush migrant birds into the mist nets. The footage showed more than 40 birds being

caught and killed from the two nets. Operation Jumbo cameras recorded two men trapping for three days with around 20 birds caught and killed. RSPB senior investigations officer Guy Shorrock

praised the collaborative work with the SBA Police and said it was great to apply methods developed in the UK to tackle the serious bird trapping problems on Cyprus. He added: “The graphic

footage obtained shows the callous actions of the trappers. These fines are substantially higher than average and the long suspended sentence puts two of the men in a very serious position

should they decide to continue trapping. "We hope the sentences given by the courts will deter the trappers from using the base area and make it easier for further acacia clearance to

be undertaken. Thesetrees are planted to create an artificial habitat for birds expressly to attract and then trap them. Clearing the acacia is urgently needed to significantly reduce levels

of illegal trapping.” For BirdLife Cyprus, the deterrent sentences recognise how bird trapping is a serious wildlife crime. Its director Martin Hellicar said: “We are pleased with the

outcome of our collaboration with the RSPB and the SBA Police, which was the first of its kind in Cyprus. “Illegal bird trapping is a persistent problem and we need such deterrent as handed

out by the Dhekelia SBA Court today, which recognise that this is a serious wildlife crime. We hope that more deterrent fines and the continuation of the acacia clearance programme will help

to significantly reduce the levels of illegal bird trapping in the SBAs. “At the same time, we BirdLife Cyprus will continue pushing hard for action against law breaking restaurants serving

trapped birds in the Republic and also with our education efforts in schools and beyond, with the aim of reducing the demand that drives the bird killing.”