New protocol to combat animal poisoning

Key public offices on Tuesday signed a new protocol to better combat animal poisoning cases with a focus on rural areas. 

The police, game and fauna fund, the state laboratories, and veterinary services attended the signing ceremony at the police headquarters. 

The police said the new protocol will improve efficiency and effectiveness in handling cases of animal poisoning. 

The protocol is to be implemented within the framework of the co-funded EU project titled Living with Vultures which aims to prevent the disappearance of the threatened species from Cyprus. 

Police chief Stelios Papatheodorou said the protocol is an important new tool for those involved in the area. 

“It’s a detailed protocol that provides the recommended actions to be taken when dealing with poisoning incidents, beginning with the detection of the incident itself, collecting evidence, identifying the toxic substance, investigating, and implementing the law against the perpetrators,” he said.  

Director of NGO BirdLife Cyprus Martin Hellicar wrote in the Cyprus Mail last year that two Griffon Vulture chicks were poisoned and died. Some of the birds suffer from the poison after feeding on carcasses or baits of other poisoned animals.  

Part of Cyprus’ conservation efforts saw 25 vultures arrive from Spain to boost the local population.