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Hunters will soon have to take shooting lessons and pass special safety exams before they can obtain their licence, Game Service head Pantelis Hadjigerou said yesterday after a meeting of the House Finance Committee examining the budget for his department.
Hadjigerou said that according to new government policy aimed at improving safety standards, hunters would have to receive special training to be allowed to shoot animals and birds.
Hunters are regularly injured in shooting accidents during the season.
Hajdigeros added would-be hunters would have to pass special exams to get a hunting licence.
Hadjigerou added that the number of hares on the island had increased in the past year, saying the Game Service would be conducting further studies on the number of hares in different areas.
"We run polls like those conducted during election campaigns, to find out how many hares there are and how many are killed by hunters.
We have found that between 50,000 and 100,000 hares are hunted every year," said Hadjigerou, adding the total population was much greater.
copyright Cyprus Mail 2002
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