Drones join war on songbird trappers at Cyprus military bases

Police on British military bases in Cyprus have used drones and night vision goggles to turn the tide in a campaign against illegal trappers catching and killing hundreds of thousands of songbirds.

Officers working with forces personnel estimate they have cut the number of migratory songbirds caught in trappers’ nets by as much as 70 per cent and destroyed large amounts of kit used to catch them.

The year-long crackdown on illegal bird poaching on the British sovereign bases in Cyprus has resulted in a "huge" drop in the number of poachers operating inside the bases' territory.

Small migratory birds such as blackcaps are considered a traditional delicacy by some Cypriots and sophisticated trapping feeds a multimillion-pound illicit trade.

Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, said: “Bird trapping is not only a cruel and barbaric trade, it lines the pockets of criminal gangs to the tune of thousands of pounds.

“Thanks to the fantastic work of our Armed Forces and the Sovereign Base Police there has been a 70 per cent fall in the number of birds killed in the Sovereign Base Areas. By seizing and destroying the tools criminals use, we are protecting migratory birds and hitting bird trappers in the pocket.  And by doubling the number of thermal image drones used to catch the poachers, we will strive for even more positive results.”

Trappers use fine mist nets strung up in acacia trees or glue coated sticks to trap the birds which are then served up as the local dish ambelopoulia.

Extensive irrigation systems are set up to water the acacia trees and the campaign by base police has included destroying 40 miles of pipes as well as nets and bird calling devices seized from trappers. More than sixty acres of acacia have been taken down at Cape Pyla.

One small mist net alone traps hundreds of birds at a time, and blackcaps sell for up to £65 per dozen.

The RSPB has estimated that more than 260,000 birds such as black caps and robins were trapped and killed last autumn at the British territory, down from the previous year’s estimate of 880,000.

Chief Constable Chris Eyre, who has been leading the police efforts, said: “With the support from the UK Government we have been able to dedicate more resources to this problem and we are now seeing the rewards of that commitment and that message is reaching the bird trapping community.

“Our work with the RSPB and the use of hidden cameras can also not be overlooked and that has led to a number of high-profile convictions.”

In 2014 a leaked letter disclosed the Prince pf Wales had lobbied the commander of British forces on Cyprus to stop the annual "barbaric slaughter" of the birds at the Dhekelia base.

In a letter to Major-General Richard Cripwell he called for the removal of the acacia groves saying it would “not only at a stroke save hundreds of thousands of birds being killed illegally on British soil, but would also prevent significant profits from flowing into the pockets of the serious organised criminals who control this barbaric practice”.