A photograph of a fox confined in a cage and allegedly offered for sale for €300 was posted on Facebook on April 19, prompting the mobilisation of relevant services and authorities.
The post circulated widely on social media and triggered strong reactions from members of the public, who condemned the incident and called for a police investigation. The Ecologists’ Movement also intervened, sending a letter to the head of Cyprus’s Game and Fauna Service, copying the Environment Commissioner and the Chief of Police.
“Flagrant breach of the law”
The Ecologists described the incident as a “flagrant breach of the legislation” governing the protection and management of wildlife. They called for an immediate investigation, identification of the person involved and clarification of the animal’s fate. They also raised the possibility of rescuing and protecting the animal, if deemed necessary. At the same time, they urged the competent authorities to inform the public promptly, given the widespread circulation of the post on social media.
Difficulties in investigating social media posts
Speaking to Politis, Game and Fauna Service spokesperson Petros Anayiotos said the service alerted the police as soon as the post was identified and filed a written complaint. Authorities then sought a search warrant for the home of the person who allegedly made the post, but the court initially declined to issue it.
Anayiotos said such cases pose significant challenges, noting that a social media post on its own does not constitute sufficient evidence to establish an offence. Questions also remain about the origin of the image and the identity of the user. He said authorities cannot rule out the possibility that the post was misleading or even originated outside Cyprus. “It is a starting point for an investigation,” he said, while stressing the limitations of this type of digital evidence.
Claims by the alleged seller
According to information obtained by Politis, the man who made the post was summoned to a police station, where he put forward various claims. Among other things, he reportedly said the animal was not a fox but a dog, which he claimed he had caught and later released.
Police told our website that they have taken a statement from the individual in question and eventually carried out a search of his home, without finding anything incriminating. Investigations are continuing, with authorities leaving open the possibility of further action.
