Paphos farmers want action on wood pigeons

The Paphos branch of the Cyprus Union of Farmers (Eka) has reported an increase in damaged crops in the last few weeks.

It said the problem was particularly acute in areas where hunting is prohibited.

According to a statement released by the union on Thursday, the birds responsible are mostly wood pigeons, whose diet includes predominantly feeding on vegetable matter, including cereal crops, leading to them being regarded as an agricultural pest.

The union has therefore asked the Game and Fauna department and the agriculture ministry to intervene by allowing the hunting of the pigeons.

Farmers are also demanding to be financially compensated for the damages caused by the birds.

“The issue has become unsustainable, and it has forced us to contact the government to help us tackle the overpopulation of wood pigeons,” the statement said.

Hunting wood pigeons is allowed by the law, according to BirdLife Cyprus.

However, the environmental NGO said that only the Game and Fauna department can intervene in such matters.

“The overpopulation of pests, such as the wood pigeon, is certainly a problem,” BirdLife Cyprus director Martin Hellicar told Cyprus Mail.

“That said, the solution cannot be the indiscriminate shooting of such birds. Allowing hunters to kill on protected areas is wrong, only the Game and Fauna department should be allowed to do so and only in extreme situations.

“Shooting and killing birds must always be the last resort, not the first, as there are several ways to tackle the overpopulation of birds on crops,” Hellicar said.

He also added that every situation where problems arise must be carefully assessed before intervening and that includes estimating the exact damages to farmlands before resorting to extreme measures.