Direct Action: The Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS)

Fri 21st Nov, 2025

Yorkshire Coast Nature Birding & Wildlife Trips Director Richard Baines has just made a donation of £500 from this year’s trip funds to CABS. At YCN we are passionate about making a difference for wildlife and we want to show you how your bookings really help! Lloyd Scott takes up the story behind the action.

European Honey-buzzard shot on migration © CABS

Every year, an estimated 25 million migratory birds are illegally killed across the Mediterranean. This shocking figure is the result of deep-rooted, large-scale hunting and trapping traditions that flourish in the geographical "bottlenecks" of the major flyways. But a dedicated organisation, the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS), is turning the tide.

Local Police removing illegally trapped songbirds © CABS

Founded in Germany in 1975, CABS is an international NGO with a small administrative team based out of our Head Office in Bonn, built on a coalition of supporters and a powerful force of around 400 volunteers who we deploy across seven countries for intensive "bird protection camps."

White Storks shot on migration © CABS

These volunteers conduct anti-poaching patrols in the most notorious poaching hotspots - from Spain and France in the west, to Malta and Italy in the central route, and Cyprus and Lebanon in the east.

From Poaching ‘Hotspots’ to Conservation Success

CABS doesn't just lobby; we take direct action. Our teams document and report illegal shooting and trapping, but where authorities fall short, we dismantle the traps ourselves - collecting thousands of nets, limesticks, and electronic decoy lures, and releasing rescued birds!

Their long-term commitment has yielded some incredible results:

• Spain: CABS lobbied successfully for a temporary ban on the hunting of the globally threatened Turtle Dove, a species seeing over a million birds shot legally there each year. Furthermore, they’ve reduced the number of vast, illegal 'Parany' trapping sites from around 500 fifteen years ago to just ~50 this year.

• Italy: In the mountains of Northern Italy, CABS's oldest campaign targeted bow traps used for songbirds. In 2001, our teams collected over 12,000 traps in just five weeks. This year over the same period? Just 31. This is a profound testament to sustained pressure and success.

• Malta: over the last two decades we have seen a dramatic decline in the number of incidents of illegal shooting of birds of prey, although illegal trapping of finches and waders remains a persistent problem.

• Cyprus: While remaining a huge problem (with ~2 million illegally songbirds caught annually), recent CABS operations, backed by high profile media campaigns with Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin, led to police raids on persistent trapping gangs and fines totalling over €150,000!

• Lebanon: Working closely with local partners and the Internal Security Forces, CABS has documented the illegal shooting of protected birds of prey, resulting in the conviction of dozens of poachers and a massive increase in raids against huge commercial bird trapping ‘farms.’

European Turtle Dove shot on migration © CABS

How You Can Help

The battle for the Mediterranean’s migratory birds is a marathon, not a sprint. CABS's ability to coordinate around 30 plus bird protection camps annually is dependent on the financial support of our supporters and the precious time of our volunteers.

Bird Guard working in the team © CABS

These successes - saving critically endangered species and dismantling illegal crime operations - show that determined direct action works. If you are passionate about protecting our shared natural heritage and want to contribute to conservation on the ground, your time and support can help keep the pressure on poachers and decision-makers alike.

CABS staff & volunteer team © CABS

To learn more about CABS campaigns, volunteering opportunities, or to help enable direct action, please get in touch via Lloyd.scott@komitee or visit the CABS website CLICK HERE