Vulture fatalities continue in Cyprus despite prior warnings to EAC

On September 30, 2026, one vulture was discovered dead and another was found seriously injured beneath medium-voltage electricity poles in the Korfi area of Cyprus. These incidents bring the total number of fatalities to six, with one additional injury, involving the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) power network. The vulture is a strictly protected and threatened species in the region.

The Game and Fauna Service has stated that it identified these poles as high-risk locations for birdlife as early as the beginning of 2025, long before the initial death occurred. Despite the EAC implementing some insulation measures, these efforts have proven insufficient to prevent electrocution. The service formally requested more robust interventions, such as the installation of fully insulated XLPE-type cables or the undergrounding of power lines, through official correspondence dated October 17, 2025, and March 20, 2026.

Conservationists and the Game and Fauna Service continue to urge the EAC to adopt these comprehensive technical solutions to eliminate the risk of further wildlife casualties. The situation remains a point of contention regarding the adequacy of current safety infrastructure in protected areas.