are we allowed to bring harris hawk here from uk

[lesshaw45]

we want to bring out harris hawk here but don't know if were allowed to anyone advise how it can be done

[Groucho]

You would need to get very specific permission from the Govt. ministry responsible for such matters... I don't think they will allow it as this would be a species not native or migratory for the island. I know you probably want to run hawk experience events and that's why you want to bring them but I don't think the powers that be would be receptive to the idea....

[JBA]

I have never heard of falconry practiced here and I think it would have attendant risk. Shooting is only permitted on limited days each year for each target species and on such days the countryside is full to the brim with shotguns - often wielded by people with limited ability in species recognition. I would imagine that any form of hunting would be limited to the same days and I would certainly not release a valuable bird on such days.

However, that said, your first port of call for advice would probably best be the Shooting Federation - any gun shop will put you in touch. Failing that the Ministry of the Interior controls hunting rules and regulations.

[paddywack]

Bit lost here, why would any sane person want to keep a wild hawk in captivity in a climate to which it is not used to.

[owl]

paddywack

Harris Hawks are native in many parts of the world including SW USA, the Tropics, S America as well as semi desert areas. They are favoured hawks in the middle east.
They would love Cyprus and be quite at home.

In many areas they only survive by being in captivity, having been hunted to near extinction.
They thrive and breed in captivity quite happily and using them for hawking gives them a very good and safe semblence of a natural existence.

I'd love to see a well run falconry centre here.

[ozankoys]

OMG & wouldn't some Cypriots just love a hawk as a status symbol they would be trapping our wild ones & keeping them in tiny cages like they do their rottweillers, huskies & kangols.
Lovely idea & fantastic tourist attraction but fraught with problems from every which way - sorry just my opinion!

[ozankoys]

I have just seen another thread someone advertised a dogo puppy which was snapped up straight away. It was sold as 'great with kids' I looked on the internet this breed specialises in big game hunting in Argentina!

[Groucho]

Kids as in goats then.....

[Groucho]

Seriously Lesshaw45, the local society for the protection of birds and nature would be dead against the introduction of a non-indigenous or normal migratory bird species here in Cyprus (whether the birds would like it here or survive is irrelevant) and you must accept that as pretty much a fact. We have enough trouble with escapee birds without the prospect of a new species of hawk that would compete for space and food with the already precarious lot of the local eagles and other birds of prey....

[Owl Lady]

I agree re not bringing one over here, in the UK I used to go to a falconry and fly Eagles, Owls(hence the user name) Hawks the lot. It was a well run establishment ,loads of room and plenty of flying area. the birds where weighed before and after each flight and fed accordingly. Only once did I ever hear of a bird not returning. God knows what happened to it. I am sure the hunters would have a field day here, if they thought there was a rare bird to bag!! Hunting season or not some don't seem to care about rules.
to be fare the Dogo is also described a very child friendly. Who knows this may become the next "designer must have dog". At least it is different!!!

[kbasat]

OMG & wouldn't Cypriots just love a hawk as a status symbol they would be trapping our wild ones & keeping them in tiny cages like they do their rottweillers, huskies & kangols.

First of all, this is racism and stereotype against Cypriots and I am naturally offended.

Second of all, it is really not nice to twist a totally different subject and use it to talk offensive about Cypriots.

Unless you have any concrete statistical data of how Cypriots keep their pets, something along the lines of "A survey conducted out of 500 Cypriot homes who keep pets, 450+ was recorded as keeping their pets in cages not suitable for their size" in order to justify your claim, I kindly ask you to reconsider and apologize publicly the same way you have offended myself and many Cypriots here.

Have a nice day,

Kemal

[ozankoys]

Hi Kemal I apologise to you as from your postings I can see your dogs are loved & looked after very well. Presumably there are lots of your compatriots who do the same so I have edited my post accordingly.
However I am not retracting it we have been coming here for over 30 years & have seen too many frequent instances of animal cruelty including:
A local nursery owner trapping a wild kestrel & putting it in a tiny cage
Men shooting the bee eaters
A girl going to Turkey leaving her 3 month old husky puppy in her apartment - when it was found over a week later it had eaten the sofa & never recovered
People putting down lethal poison some containing ground glass for any animal or child to pick up ingest & die horribly
A pilot leaving his kangol puppy in his back yard with no arrangements for her to be looked after when he was away
This is apart from the beautiful dogs we see shut in cages or chained up, never exercised & not given proper food
Of course animal cruelty exists in all countries but here the authorities seem to turn a blind eye.
However things have improved here immensely & hopefully they will continue to do so