MARONI, Cyprus -- The Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS), an international conservation group, launched a new campaign aimed at exposing what it calls the most prolific illegal bird-trapping site in the European Union.
Dubbed "Occupy Akas," the operation targets a fenced valley near Maroni, Cyprus, where CABS alleges a well-known criminal group has trapped and sold hundreds of thousands of protected birds over the years. British wildlife presenters Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin joined the group to document the effort.
CABS General Secretary Alexander Heyd said the site, known locally as "Akas farm," sees an average of 500 birds killed daily, with peak days reaching 1,000.
The group estimates the poachers earn roughly €180,000 annually from the activity, which it claims continues unchecked by Cypriot authorities.
"This valley is by far the worst black spot for illegal bird trapping in the whole European Union," Heyd said.
"The Cyprus Police are well aware of this criminal activity, but despite numerous reports and a mountain of evidence, they are either unable or unwilling to stop it."
According to CABS, efforts to alert authorities over the past 15 years -- in coordination with BirdLife Cyprus and the UK's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds -- have yielded minimal results.
The group claims police typically conduct a single symbolic raid at the end of each trapping season, seizing one net while leaving others untouched.
On Saturday morning, CABS volunteers observed six mist nets in use at the site.
When poachers noticed they were being watched, they reportedly freed birds from the nets and removed the equipment. CABS said police were notified but declined to intervene.
The organization also cited past incidents of intimidation, including a police officer allegedly being manhandled by a gang member and an explosive device damaging a CABS vehicle.
No charges were filed in either case, according to the group.
CABS is now calling on Cypriot authorities to provide security for its teams monitoring the site during peak bird migration.
Packham and McCubbin livestreamed the launch of the operation on social media, aiming to raise awareness of the ongoing poaching and the lack of enforcement.