Filenews 20 August 2021 - by Despina Psilou
The shrinking of the game populations of Cyprus as well as the reduction and destruction of its habitats are denounced by the organized hunters.
These problems, as well as the threatening increase of predators (crows and foxes) are noted in an open letter on July 28, signed by the Hyper-Party Hunters' Movement addressed to the Ministry of Interior. There is an environmental problem, underlined to "F" on the occasion of this letter, the president of the Hunters' Party, Nikolas Prodromou. Hunters' demand, he said, is for the State to assign experts to manage these issues. On the part of the Game Service, the destruction and limitation of biotopes due to reconstruction and other works was recognized. However, it was denied that the game population decreased compared to the previous year.
In particular, the president of the Hunters complained that the habitats are shrinking from several different causes. "One factor that reduces the extent of biotopes is the arbitrary construction of houses. It is a scourge that destroys biotopes. Another reason is the uncontrolled creation of photovoltaic parks. There is a counter-proposal that solar panels be placed on the roofs of public buildings as well as on roofs of houses with the incentive of financing the owners. Instead we continue to destroy areas of biotopes", noted Mr. Prodromou.
Another factor in shrinking the game population, he said, is the deterioration of natural wealth due to fires. There is a need, he added, to strengthen firefighting and the coordination of firefighting operations. Moreover, Mr. Prodromou mentioned as a problem "the uncontrolled", as he described it, poaching. "This is a well-organized crime that was reinforced after the closure of the Poaching Unit of the Mechanized Direct Action Unit (M.M.A.D.). We repeatedly asked for its reopening, but unfortunately we received a negative response." At the same time, he noted that poaching could be contained by free and intensive hare breeding. "To bring down the price of his market because there is black trade."
As he said, the organized hunters will meet in September with the Game Service where they will express their requests.
Problem of crows and foxes
Another cause, which is also mentioned in the letter, is the "refusal of the Ministry of Interior to sign the Decree on The Fight against Harmful Things". As Mr Prodromou has made clear, it is a question of dealing with the spread of crows. "It's the second year it's not signed. In fact, there is hunting in specific areas in the presence of the Game Service." The procedure is done, he explained, to protect them from the crows but species of birds that are also game, such as birds. Accordingly, he talked about a large increase in fox populations. "There is no predator for foxes and therefore the problem is huge. There must be a competent service of specialists, which will control and manage populations of all species."
"Reality is the shrinkage of habitats"
The problem of shrinkage of the biotopes of Cyprus, confirmed to "F" the spokesman of the Game Service, Petros Anagiotos. "The shrinkage of habitats is a reality. It results from residential development, individual housing, the opening of roads, the construction of solar or wind farms. These actions affect the habitats and consequently the fauna of the place. Destruction and shrinkage affects the species that live in it." However, Mr. Anagiotos disagreed about the decline of the game populations. "As we found from the results of last year's harvest report, we have an increase in the populations of hares and partridges, which are the most important prey in Cyprus. I don't think the issue of shrinkage is true."
At the same time, he said that this is the second year that the Decree on crows was not signed. This, he said and despite the protests of the hunters, happened as it is a hunt that takes place in groups at a time when the measures to deal with the pandemic did not allow for overcrowding. "It was purely for the purpose of preventing the coronavirus."
On poaching, he noted that it existed in the past and will exist in the future. "However, since the new legislation and the strict extrajudicial fines were implemented in 2017, we have been observing as an Agency that poaching has decreased. Patrols are also carried out on a daily basis and 24 hours a day." As for hares, which are a species of poaching, he said that today they are allowed to be reared by private individuals, with the aim, however, of leaving them in their natural environment.
Mr. Anagiotos also noted the need to strengthen the Game Service. "During the summer season we are charged with several responsibilities. Among other things, we are dealing with the prevention and response of fires. A key part of the Service is dealing with this piece in the summer," he said.
