BirdLife Cyprus has defended its estimate that 726,000 birds are trapped annually by poachers in Cyprus, after the figure was challenged by the Game and Fauna Service during a parliamentary discussion last week.
In a statement, the conservation group said its estimate is consistent with both field research and figures previously cited by the authorities on the scale of the illegal bird-trapping trade.
According to BirdLife Cyprus, the Game and Fauna Service has publicly estimated annual illegal revenues from bird trapping at more than €10 million. The figure of 726,000 birds, meanwhile, is BirdLife's estimate of the number of birds killed through illegal trapping in autumn 2025 within its survey area covering Larnaca and Famagusta districts, based on annual systematic field monitoring.
Addressing criticism of the estimate, the organisation presented what it described as a reverse calculation based on the authorities' own figures.
"And because this number has been questioned, let us do the reverse calculation based on the estimates of the Game and Fauna Service: €10,000,000 divided by €100 per dozen equals 100,000 dozens. Therefore, multiplied by 12, this equals 1,200,000 birds. Even with this simplified, conservative exercise, the order of magnitude is not at all far from what we record in the field," the organisation said.
BirdLife Cyprus stressed that the calculation based on turnover is indicative and assumes that the sum relates to the trade in trapped birds sold at €100 per dozen. It added that its estimate of 726,000 birds is derived from a separate and independent field methodology.
The organisation also said that allegations of harassment raised during the parliamentary committee meeting were not accompanied by supporting evidence from the authorities.
"So, if we genuinely want to talk about a 'phenomenon', as described in the title of the issue chosen for discussion by the Committee, the numbers are quite clear: the documented phenomenon is poaching and illegal trapping, not those who report the crime," the statement said.
