Filenews 13 May 2024 - by Angelos Nicolaou
Serious concerns have been expressed in recent weeks, due to a possible complaint in Cyprus, regarding the training of hunting dogs during the breeding season of huntable and protected wildlife species.
Cyprus seems to be the Member State of the European Union with the longest duration of training trips for hunting dogs, even during the sensitive breeding season of wildlife and especially birds. And all this, despite the existence of scientific studies, which prove the significant and negative impact of this activity on wildlife. It is noted that in Greece the areas of practice of hunting dogs have been drastically restricted, while in some other European countries the training of hunting dogs is completely prohibited during the breeding season.
However, in the last decade unbearable pressure has been exerted on the competent authorities by organized groups and mainly informal traders and trainers of hunting dogs, with the aim of expanding existing or even declaring new hunting dog training areas nationwide.
These interest groups invoke animal welfare sentiments and exert excessive pressure on the competent authorities to grant larger training areas for hunting dogs, while in the recent past there have even been demonstrations by specific bodies, with the aim of retreating the competent authorities and satisfying their scientifically unfounded demands.
In some cases, the competent authorities even gave in, due to intense pressure and political mandates, resulting in these groups becoming emboldened and pushing even more. Recently, these groups organized protests calling for the legalization of hunting dog training throughout the country and throughout the year.
It is noted that Cyprus seems to be the only member state of the European Union in which hunting dogs are trained on live game during the breeding season in the wild. Essentially, hunting dog training takes place throughout the year and just certain months restrictions are set and some areas are prohibited.
According to the current legal framework, 6,000 hunting dog licenses are granted during the breeding season, with the maximum limit being 4 hunting dogs per license granted and per training outing. In reality, however, few people seem to respect the current legislation, while cases of people accompanying dozens of dogs on each training outing are recorded.
The undeclared turnover from the trade of hunting dogs by informal traders is estimated to amount to millions of euros, while the training and sale of hunting dogs is a profitable activity for people who practice it as a second profession. In fact, there are even cases in which informal hunting dog trainers are declared unemployed and recipients of aid.
