Environmental groups on Tuesday called for more to be done to protect stray animals in Cyprus, with the Greens calling for food, and the Animal Party saying cat sterilisations need to be increased as the problem is still out of hand.

In a statement following a report that over €351,000 have been given in the past five years for stray cats to be sterilised, the Animal Party said it welcomed the initiative, but that more needs to be done.

On Monday, Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis said in a reply to Green MPs Alexandra Attalides and Charalambos Theopemptou about the programme, that for the current year, the amount for sterilisation funds increased from €75,000 to €100,000 with 83 veterinarians participating in the programme.

They will get on average €4,229 each, he added.

However, in their statement the Animal Party warned that more needs to be done.

“Animal welfare organisations, volunteers and rescuers have stepped in and run every day to take care of cats and cat colonies (without any financial support) but the problem remains big and is growing dramatically. And only if we cite the relevant numbers from this alone it becomes clear that the government programme is heading in a different direction and with poor results,” they said.

The party added that the funds are not being distributed properly, and that a collective approach led by the ministry needs to be taken.

The Greens called on people to provide volunteers with food for stray animals.

The party said that priority will be given to volunteers that take care of stray animal colonies.

Food can be brought to the party offices from 8am until 4pm until December 12.