Cyprus-Forum.com

[Get Real!]

Since when did the British base garrisons acquire the right to euthanise Cyprus' wildlife?

It's that "kill every wild Badger around in case it has TB" mentality all over again.

Here’s hoping these disgusting animal abusers won’t be moving to Africa or they’ll start disease comparisons again between their London Tabby and the wild Cheetahs!

[Get Real!]

Message to ignorant Brits:

The feral cats are full of diseases but their immune system has evolved resistance to them, but young children and pregnant women (see toxoplasma) who are the most susceptible should never touch them! These cats should not be confused with the London Tabby.

[GreekIslandGirl]

Completely agree with your line of thinking GR!. The animal world is full of hazards for humans, but the human world is more full of hazards for humans (as well as other animals).

But without doubt, if we are to learn anything from Darwin's Theory of Evolution (stolen from Aristotle) then we should leave well alone because this is how the species becomes stronger. As soon as we interfere and decide to terminate a member of the species, we remove the selection mechanism and impose greater long-term harmful effects on the surviving members of the species.

The Brits may (secondhand) claim "evolution" - but they have NEVER really understood it!

[Sotos]

Thank you to those who have replied to this post in the appropriate fashion. I appreciate that feral cats on Cyprus help in keeping the population of snakes/rats etc. down, but (1) many Brits like us have problems when it comes to suppressing our more humane side and we can’t help but fall in love with these gorgeous little furballs, (2) judging from the frivolous nature of some of the posts here, it’s obvious that membership of the EU has not yet led to a more enlightened attitude to animal welfare for all Cypriots.

Anyway, for those of you who are interested in what happened to our mother cat - we eventually managed to trap her, and have her taken away for examination by the veterinary surgeon on Episkopi Garrison. Unfortunately she was found to be carrying a number of viruses, and was generally not in the best of health. The policy on the garrison for feral cats found to be in such a condition is to have them euthanised to try and prevent the further spread of disease and viruses amongst the feral cat population, so sadly she had to be put down in line with this policy.

I do believe she appreciated that we were trying to care for her during the six months we had her in our garden, and at least she no longer has to go through the endless vicious circle of getting pregnant and giving birth repeatedly. The fact that her misery is over gives us some comfort.

We managed to catch the two little ones and take them to Paphiakos in Paphos, so at least they will be looked after well there and have relatively nice lives.

Hey ... I am very humane person. Give me your address and I will come to castrate you and your whole family in order to prove it! Not only that, but I will send you for blood analysis and if any viruses are found in any of you I will have you euthanised!

[Paphitis]

Completely agree with your line of thinking GR!. The animal world is full of hazards for humans, but the human world is more full of hazards for humans (as well as other animals).

But without doubt, if we are to learn anything from Darwin's Theory of Evolution (stolen from Aristotle) then we should leave well alone because this is how the species becomes stronger. As soon as we interfere and decide to terminate a member of the species, we remove the selection mechanism and impose greater long-term harmful effects on the surviving members of the species.

The Brits may (secondhand) claim "evolution" - but they have NEVER really understood it!

I also agree with most of what you posted, apart from one minor matter.

Aristotle's Great Chain of Being has nothing to do with Darwin's Natural Selection.

[CBBB]

Completely agree with your line of thinking GR!. The animal world is full of hazards for humans, but the human world is more full of hazards for humans (as well as other animals).

But without doubt, if we are to learn anything from Darwin's Theory of Evolution (stolen from Aristotle) then we should leave well alone because this is how the species becomes stronger. As soon as we interfere and decide to terminate a member of the species, we remove the selection mechanism and impose greater long-term harmful effects on the surviving members of the species.

The Brits may (secondhand) claim "evolution" - but they have NEVER really understood it!

I also agree with most of what you posted, apart from one minor matter.

Aristotle's Great Chain of Being has nothing to do with Darwin's Natural Selection.

We should never let the facts get in the way of a good story!

[cyprusgrump]

I can only imagine that those of you who have talked of the magnificent feral cats of Cyprus, protecting us from snakes and rats have never seen the reality that faces many of them...?

Diseased, undernourished creatures, riddled with fleas, ticks and worms... destined to breed and pass the diseases onto their infants...

...not roaming the wide open spaces catching vermin but living out of bins in towns and cities only to have their life cut short on the motorway...

I think it is great that people like the OP and other organisations in Cyprus spend time addressing the obvious issues caused by the overpopulation of these creatures.

Off topic I know but some of the comments on this thread are way over the top - imagine what a new poster would think if they found the forum today and read through this lot as their first post...?

[Paphitis]

There is a deeper issue than that CG!

I think most Cypriots are sick and tired of the generalisations that they are less animal friendly than others. That is just not true!

Also, those of you that have pet cats should have them indoors because they hunt and kill birds and their eggs in their nests.

You can't show off by saying how much you care for animal welfare and gloat about your cat that comes and goes!

[Get Real!]

I can only imagine that those of you who have talked of the magnificent feral cats of Cyprus, protecting us from snakes and rats have never seen the reality that faces many of them...?

Diseased, undernourished creatures, riddled with fleas, ticks and worms... destined to breed and pass the diseases onto their infants...

...not roaming the wide open spaces catching vermin but living out of bins in towns and cities only to have their life cut short on the motorway...

I think it is great that people like the OP and other organisations in Cyprus spend time addressing the obvious issues caused by the overpopulation of these creatures.

Off topic I know but some of the comments on this thread are way over the top - imagine what a new poster would think if they found the forum today and read through this lot as their first post...?

The government should conduct obligatory blood tests on all British expats and at the slightest impurity found they should be euthanized or have their genitals cut off (you choose which option democratically).

You agree with that Grumpy?

[cyprusgrump]

There is a deeper issue than that CG!

I think most Cypriots are sick and tired of the generalisations that they are less animal friendly than others. That is just not true!

Also, those of you that have pet cats should have them indoors because they hunt and kill birds and their eggs in their nests.

You can't show off by saying how much you care for animal welfare and gloat about your cat that comes and goes!

So, pet cats only kill birds and feral cats only kill vermin?

You haven't really thought this through have you...?

And I don't see any accusation in my post that Cypriots are less friendly to animals than others (although that is my experience)....