Volunteer to Protect Birds from Poaching in Cyprus
Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS)
Are you passionate about wildlife?
Eager to join a team dedicated to protecting migratory birds prom poaching?
Willing to travel to Cyprus when birds need you the most?
Then we have a volunteering opportunity for you!
About Us
The Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) is a German-based environmental NGO dedicated to the protection of migratory birds across the Mediterranean. Every year, CABS organises Bird Protection Camps and anti-poaching operations in countries such as Spain, France, Malta, Italy, Germany, Cyprus, Greece, and Lebanon.
Over 200 volunteers participate annually in our field missions, working in close collaboration
with law enforcement authorities to detect and prevent the illegal hunting and trapping of
migratory and overwintering birds.
We’re looking for volunteers to join our upcoming Autumn Bird Protection Camp in Cyprus.
This is the peak season, when hundreds of poachers trap blackcaps and other warblers, and
others illegally shoot bee-eaters, Spanish sparrows, and many other protected species. These
birds are often sold on the black market and consumed as a “delicacy.”
Responsibilities:
You’ll join our staff and other volunteers in small teams, patrolling by day and night to
locate illegal trapping and hunting sites. You will gather evidence and report it to local law
enforcement authorities. You will contribute directly to the rescue of trapped birds and the
prevention of further killings.
This role is for you if:
- You are passionate about birds and have a basic knowledge of European bird species.
- You’re courageous. While serious incidents are rare, poachers can react aggressively in the field. Most incidents are limited to shouting, but physical threats do occur. Our approach is to avoid conflict and focus on calm, effective intervention to protect birds.
- You are a confident and competent driver, preferably with experience driving on small gravel or dirt roads.
- You speak English well. Since volunteers come from across Europe and beyond, English is the working language at camp. Knowledge of Greek is a plus.
- You are reliable, cooperative, and sociable – antipoaching work is teamwork. Volunteers live in shared apartments and take turns with communal duties such as cooking and cleaning.
- You are in good physical and mental condition, capable of working in challenging conditions, including night shifts, long hours, and potentially stressful situations.
No prior experience is necessary for identifying traps and electronic callers, or for releasing
birds from nets and traps. You will learn all this whilst volunteering with us.
When?
We ask for a minimum commitment of two weeks and longer stays are welcomed. Operations run from early September to mid-November. Applications are open until mid-October, but places are limited — so the sooner you apply, the better!
Shared accommodation is provided, and travel costs to and from the camp can be reimbursed.
Join our Bird Protection Camps
Volunteering with CABS at the Autumn Bird Protection Camp in Cyprus can be demanding and at times dangerous — but also incredibly rewarding. As a volunteer, you will play a vital role in saving birds from illegal trapping and ensuring long-term protection of threatened migratory species.
To apply, contact our wildlife crime officer Stefania Travaglia at: [email protected]
For more information on volunteering opportunities in other countries, click below.