Cyprus-Forum.com

[cyprusgeoff]

Cypriots kill a million migratory birds says conservationist in a report
on Yahoo.



More than one million migratory birds were illegally trapped and killed over the past year to feed an illicit Cypriot taste for such delicacies, a conservationist group said on Tuesday. A survey by Birdlife Cyprus carried out between March 2008 and February 2009 showed that more than 1.1 million birds were indiscriminately killed with mist nets and limesticks, with estimated killings at a five-year high.

These methods are used to catch black caps and song thrushes, much sought after delicacies in Cyprus that fetch five euros (6.40 dollars) each at restaurants, making the illegal trade a lucrative one.

"When push comes to shove and the 'delicacies' on peoples' plates are at stake, decision makers just don't want to know," Birdlife manager Martin Hellicar told AFP.

He said a clampdown on restaurants was needed to prevent Cyprus revisiting the 1990s when up to 10 million birds were killed.

A huge crackdown on trappers and restaurants was enforced before Cyprus joined the European Union in May 2004, but now conservationists say the government lacks the political will to eradicate the trade.

"Bird trapping is coming back to haunt us in a big way and the reason is simple -- packets of money to be made."

During the winter, millions of birds take refuge in Cyprus from colder northern climates.

An estimated 57 species that are listed as threatened or in need of protection are snared in illegal Cypriot traps.

What will be done about it? Yeah you guessed right.................nothing!

[CBBB]

But they are very tasty when pickled!

[pissouri]

No, I prefer them fried with lots of tomato and onion

[Oracle]

I would rather people did not capture wild birds full stop. However activities by hunters in Cyprus have not resulted in making any species extinct ... whereas many other countries' human activities have been sadly notorious in this respect.

Of equal worry is the following:





Dead seas: human activities are killing off the oceans

Posted by jossc on 15 February 2008.


It's official; mankind is killing off our oceans far faster than previously thought. The first global-scale study of human impacts on marine ecosystems, published today in the flagship US journal Science, reveals a picture of widespread destruction with few if any areas remaining untouched.

By overlaying maps of 17 different activities including fishing, climate change, and pollution, researchers at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) have produced a composite map of the heavy toll that we are taking on the seas.

On the map above the worst affected areas are marked in red and shades of orange. As you can see, our own North Sea is in deep trouble from years of over-exploitation and pollution. Without immediate action to create marine reserves (large areas which are off-limits to all extractive industries like fishing and oil production) we will soon be left with an oceanic wasteland. It's frightening, particularly when you remember that as recently as 50 years ago oceans were seen as a limitless resource - there were thought to be so many fish that no amount of fishing could make a dent in their numbers. Now key species including cod, plaice, haddock and sole are all under threat.

[paliometoxo]

intresting...

many vegiterians and vegans dont eat meat either any kind killing cows and chickens..etc what about them? if they call this killing bird illigal then why dont they call killing any other animal illigal to eat?

[bill cobbett]

What's with all this politically correct, eurodisney, Cultural Destruction.

Every Cy has a duty to maintain the culture where for thousands of years boys have gone out and used their skills, their local knowledge and their lime-sticks to gather some of nature's harvest to augment the family diet.

[RichardB]

I'm with CBBB on this one

The only way is pickled

But we were in Cyprus in the days before the nouveau cuisine style advocated by pissouri

[CBBB]

Very true Richard!

[denizaksulu]

I would rather people did not capture wild birds full stop. However activities by hunters in Cyprus have not resulted in making any species extinct ... whereas many other countries' human activities have been sadly notorious in this respect.

Of equal worry is the following:





Dead seas: human activities are killing off the oceans

Posted by jossc on 15 February 2008.


It's official; mankind is killing off our oceans far faster than previously thought. The first global-scale study of human impacts on marine ecosystems, published today in the flagship US journal Science, reveals a picture of widespread destruction with few if any areas remaining untouched.

By overlaying maps of 17 different activities including fishing, climate change, and pollution, researchers at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) have produced a composite map of the heavy toll that we are taking on the seas.

On the map above the worst affected areas are marked in red and shades of orange. As you can see, our own North Sea is in deep trouble from years of over-exploitation and pollution. Without immediate action to create marine reserves (large areas which are off-limits to all extractive industries like fishing and oil production) we will soon be left with an oceanic wasteland. It's frightening, particularly when you remember that as recently as 50 years ago oceans were seen as a limitless resource - there were thought to be so many fish that no amount of fishing could make a dent in their numbers. Now key species including cod, plaice, haddock and sole are all under threat.

I am with you Oracle with the wild birds issue. The colours of the map above remind me of the Golden Oriole. What is it with me and the Golden Oriole. Perhaps the ones I ate when young are haunting me.

Seriously the Gov should do much more to inspect these restaurants who deal with these Black Caps. They cannot all be related to the Minister of Abriculture (or whoevers responsibility it is).

Savages