Filenews 6 April 2022
After a year and a half of intensive training in Greece, the two dogs Sofie and Dixie breed Border Collie have come to Cyprus to change the situation in dealing with the illegal use of poisoned baits in the countryside. The two Poison Bait Detection Teams, the first of their kind in Cyprus, have been created within the framework of the LIFE program "Life with Vultures" and will be part of the capacity of the Game and Fauna Service, the competent authority for the protection of wild birds in Cyprus.
As stated in a joint press release by BirdLife Cyprus and the Game and Fauna Service, the placement of poisoned baits is an illegal but widespread practice that threatens the wildlife of the Cypriot countryside. The poisoned baits are the main threat to the endangered Fire Vulture and indiscriminately kill other species of wildlife such as eagles, while very often victims of this practice are dogs of hunters, walkers and breeders. The substances used are extremely toxic and to this day they are by sheer luck that no human life has been lost from their reckless placement in the countryside.
The Poison Bait Detection Teams, each consisting of a specially trained dog and its handler, is a tool that is successfully used in many countries of Europe and contributes effectively to both the prevention and the treatment of the placement of poisoned baits. With the action of the two Poison Bait Detection Teams, more cases of poisoning will be detected in the Cypriot countryside, resulting in the cleaning of the environment from poisons and poisoned animals, preventing further incidents. At the same time, by identifying an incident of poisoning, the teams will assist in the investigation of the offence, as they will help to collect evidence from the crime scene with the aim of identifying the perpetrator and his future conviction. At the same time, they will act as a deterrent to the perpetrators, as their existence contributes significantly to the detection and investigation of these crimes. Moreover, the action of the above groups will be an important tool of communication and awareness in the fight against poisons, while contributing to the collection of data that will help to understand the true extent of the problem.
The Poison Bait Detection Teams are not the only solution to the problem of poisons, as what will determine the success of the whole effort is the active involvement of all competent bodies (Game and Fauna Service, Cyprus Police, Veterinary Services, General Chemical State Laboratory) for the effective investigation of incidents at all its stages, always aiming at identifying the culprit and convicting him. As in other countries, it is estimated that the rural world (communities, livestock breeders, hunters, etc.) will embrace the teams for detecting poisoned baits and it is expected that this public will contribute to the effort by reporting and reporting incidents of this kind of crime, against wildlife, to the Game and Fauna Service (99267916 & 99255086) and the Police.
The "Life with the Vultures" program, with BirdLife Cyprus, the Game and Fauna Service, the Cyprus Foundation for the Protection of the Environment - Terra Cypria and the international organization Vulture Conservation Foundation, aims to stop the disappearance of the Vulture, addressing its main threats, and to strengthen its population. More information about the program can be found here: www.lifewithvultures.eu
