DHEKELIA, Cyprus — Authorities at British military bases in Cyprus say a yearlong crackdown on illegal bird poaching has resulted in a “huge” drop in the number of poachers operating inside the bases’ territory. They also point to a 70 per cent reduction in the trapping of blackcaps over the same period. Small migratory birds are considered a delicacy by some Cypriots, and trapping feeds a multimillion-euro illicit trade. Authorities on Friday used heavy equipment to crush bird calling devices and other trapping paraphernalia. Dhekelia British Base Police Chief Jon Ward said combatting poachers remains a priority and that a 12-person anti-poaching unit will expand its use of drones and hidden cameras to enforce the law.

Source: National Post March 23, 2018 13:07 UTC