Cameroon national sentenced to 14 months in prison for slaughtering of kangaroo in Cyprus

A 37-year-old asylum seeker from Cameroon has been sentenced to 14 months in prison by the Famagusta court in Cyprus on Tuesday, after being found guilty of animal abuse and slaughtering a Kangaroo.

The incident occurred on May 7, when Greek Cypriot police received a tip-off that two men were butchering a kangaroo in public view using knives. This led officers to the parking area of an apartment building in Dherynia, where they discovered plastic bags containing the dismembered carcass of an adult kangaroo, along with an axe, and several knives.

One of the two individuals fled, while the second, a 36-year-old man from Cameroon, remained at the scene.

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

The animal parts were confiscated for investigation.

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

A 55-year-old Cypriot woman who owns the farm where the kangaroo was found, and a 54-year-old Romanian man who worked as an animal caretaker at the facility were also arrested. 

According to veterinary examinations, the remains were confirmed to belong to a kangaroo, raising concern over how such an animal had been acquired and kept on the island.

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 court ruled that the combination of illegal habitation and unlawful butchering of an animal warranted a prison sentence.

Police emphasised that ruling should send a strong message that animal abuse is treated with zero tolerance.

The prosecution comes amid a broader investigation into the sourcing of exotic animals in Cyprus.

In recent years, concerns have been raised by animal welfare groups about unregistered facilities and the keeping of exotic species outside regulated environments.

Only three officially registered zoos are permitted to house such animals, and since 2021 owners of exotic species have been required to register them under updated legislation.

Importing or selling exotic species without permits is also illegal.

Authorities are continuing to investigate how the kangaroo arrived at the premises, whether it had been legally kept, and whether additional animals may have been housed or sold for consumption.

Officers have taken statements from individuals linked to an animal facility in the wider area, where other exotic species were reportedly being kept, and enquiries are ongoing into the possible involvement of further suspects.

Police reiterated that butchering any animal outside an approved slaughterhouse is prohibited due to public health risks and animal welfare regulations.