Ambelopoulia facts for kids

Ambelopoulia is a traditional dish from Cyprus that has caused a lot of discussion. It involves cooking small songbirds, often by grilling, frying, pickling, or boiling them. While some people in Cyprus enjoy this dish, it is actually against the law to prepare or serve it.

The main reason it's illegal is because it requires trapping wild birds, like blackcaps and European robins. This trapping method catches all kinds of birds without choosing, meaning many protected and migrating birds are also caught and killed.

Why is Ambelopoulia Illegal?

The practice of trapping birds for ambelopoulia has been illegal in Cyprus since 1974. Despite this, some restaurants still serve the dish. This has led to a big problem for bird populations.

Impact on Bird Populations

• In 2010, it was thought that about 2.4 million birds were killed across Cyprus.
• A report from BirdLife Cyprus in 2014 stated that over 1.5 million migrating songbirds are killed every year.
• This number has been growing. In 2015, it was estimated that over 2 million birds were killed.
• A large number of these birds, over 800,000, were killed in the British areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in autumn 2016.

Why Does Bird Trapping Continue?

People who trap birds often say it's a very old Cypriot tradition for gathering food. They claim it has been an important source of protein for many thousands of years. However, as mentioned, it has been illegal for a long time.

The Role of Restaurants

BirdLife Cyprus believes that restaurants are a big part of the problem. They offer money for the birds, which encourages people to trap them. Even though it's against the law, many Cypriots and visitors enjoy this dish. This has created a very profitable illegal business.

Illegal Bird Trade

• In recent years, the illegal trapping of birds for ambelopoulia has increased.
• By 2011, this illegal activity was described as a well-organized operation.
• It involved people who trap birds, those who sell them, and restaurant owners.
• At that time, this illegal business was thought to be worth about 5 million euros.
• Birds were reportedly sold for five euros each.
• Cypriot authorities estimated that criminals made 15 million euros from this in 2015.