Cameroon national arrested in Cyprus for the butcher of kangaroon

A Cameroon national.was arrested on Thursday by Greek Cypriot police after he was caught cutting up a kangaroo in Famagusta.

The suspect was detained Wednesday in an apartment building car park shortly after police received reports that two men were butchering a kangaroo in public view using knives.

The incident came to light when a tip-off led officers to the parking lot of an apartment building, where two people were cutting up the animal.

When the officers from the Dherynia police station arrived, one of the two individuals fled, while the second, a 36-year-old man from Cameroon, remained at the scene.

During the onsite investigation, plastic bags containing dismembered animal parts were found, as well as an axe and five knives.

When questioned, the remaining suspect stated that the animal was a kangaroo that he had received from a third party in Paralimni.

A veterinary services officer confirmed the remains were of a dismembered adult kangaroo.

The animal parts were confiscated for investigation.

The 36-year-old was taken to the Dherynia police station, where he was determined to be residing illegally in the country since his request for asylum had been rejected in 2022.

He was taken into custody after an arrest warrant was issued against him.

Police said that dismemberment and/or butchering or butchering of any animal is an illegal offence, as slaughterhouse hygiene protocols, as well as animal welfare regulations, are violated by this act.

The man faces multiple charges including causing an animal pain, suffering, injury or fear; subjecting an animal to a horrific death; possessing a prohibited animal; and illegal residence in the Republic of Cyprus.

While the consumption of kangaroo meat is not illegal per se the incident requires serious investigation into the origin of the animal carcass and raises health and safety concerns, the veterinary services added.

Kangaroo meat has been a staple source of protein in Australia for thousands of years and proponents have marketed it as a low-fat, high protein dietary choice.

In the EU the biggest importer of kangaroo meat is Belgium, , however, a campaign to ban its consumption has been intensified over the past several years due to charges that the animals are massacred en masse in cruel and inhumane ways.