Cyprus's Songbird Massacre: The Politics of Food

We recently traveled to Cyprus to learn more about why the largest massacre of songbirds anywhere in the world is happening on British sovereign territory.
Dhekelia, one of two areas on the island retained by the British after Cypriot independence, became the host of industrial-scale bird trapping after Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004. Local authorities were forced to bring the country in line with European laws, but criminals seeking to profit from the illegal trade continue to supply the country's restaurants from the sovereign base area.
We met agonized locals who are dismayed that their tradition of trapping birds has been outlawed, and then-to see both sides of the story-joined up with a team of European activists who document the scale of trapping and disrupt the poachers’ traps at night.
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[@apolloravindran]

The most disturbing aspect of this video is that you can get away doing pretty much anything in the name of tradition or culture or beliefs

[@chinese8123]

It’s not getting away with it. It’s just it, different cultures have different delicacy. That’s that.

[@jayray7230]

ikr? its like how sharia says homosexuals should be thrown from a great hieght. the koran says that it is ok. it is not ok.

[@TheMaria0398]

Pretty much

[@jayray7230]

@YoungD3mon314 fucking fruit is bad, but if i had to choose i would use a cantelope

[@kristoffersparegodt420]

Jay Ray. If you had read the Bible you would know they have the same opinion on homosexuality

[@skaybestrog]

these birds have struggled, sometimes for hours, before dieing. there's barely any meat, yet they're cooked (apparently for a long time) in saltwater instead of atleast stir fried or something more adequate. if that bird had any taste of it's own before, it's definitely gone by then. which might be a good thing, since they would definitely taste rather shitty, being all tense and shit. what a complete waste. sometimes traditions just have to go.

[@ZanderVanBarrel]

They are very fatty thats what makes them so special. So by frying them you melt all the fat away and there is no much left. Boiling them for like 20 mins max is the best way and then u can make a nice bulgur or rice in the broth. They are best served and eaten with a lot of lemon and salt. 2 or 3 birdies are enough, to eat more can give u some stomach issues since they are fatty. Afterall they are just an appetiser and not a meal and they are usually eaten in companion to some destilates. Every animal stuggles to death one way or another.Have u ever seen how a komodo kills its pray? How a constrictor snake pops the eyes of its food? How a spider wraps them up? or even how a cat can play for hours with a mouse until it eats it.I dont think u realise how privileged u r to be out of the food chain. Just enjoy it, just like a lion would have done with you.I dont get why everyone is so concerned about the extinction of a bird that in their mind didnt exist til the last half an hour.

[@skaybestrog]

Cooking bulgur in songbird broth actually sounds pretty decent, I'd be down for that. The actual bird looked pig disgusting tho, nothing but glibbery fat (and I usually love fat..). My comment on the struggle of the bird was concerning taste, not ethics (even though it is definitely ethically unjustifiable..). You just don't want whatever you're eating to struggle because it'll obviously drastically reduce the quality of the meat.

[@involuntaryanalysis]

***** Well, if comercial trapping continues, eventually, no one will. Maybe put a ban on serving songbird in resturaunts, but set up a specific trapping season, so the birds have time to repopulate, but families can still enjoy their culinary heritage.

[@HuseyinAtaiEsengol]

YVNG CARL JVNG You would not say that after eating it. Theres supply because there is demand, just like drugs this business is the same. Demand will never end, and there always will be someone supplying it, if not you someone else will, if not him someone else other will...

[@williamlagos6850]

YVNG CARL JVNG until there is none left. after none are left everyone that's so proud of eating them will deny they ever had one lol

[@Andre78923]

I am Cypriot, it's the older generation that likes this type of meze like 50 year old's and up, measures fines and prison sentences are in place and many have been convicted or fined. I have tasted 4-5 times in gatherings etc it tastes like shit because of the digestive enzymes and that you are supposed to cook it whole and eat it whole including the intestinal contents aka feces. I don't like the taste at all and will never eat it again but older generation eat it cause they learned it from their father etc and it became kinda cultural forbidden fruit that tastes better because it's illegal and hard to get. This documentary said every back yard in Cyprus has a songbird trap factory operation lol i can assure you it's probably less than 1000 people doing this and probably they will die in the next 10 years.

[@edhernandez8523]

What the point of saying intestinal contents and feces?

[@johnv7215]

Ed Hernandez maybe more than feces in the intestines. Bile?

[@hurtigheinz3790]

@@edhernandez8523 Ask him in Cypriotic - maybe he can give you a more specific explanation :)

[@hubalahu]

The boomers of Cyprus you mean

[@andiarrohnds5163]

wow cool story... nobody cares. literally never heard of your country until now

[@hara3435]

My father comes from a village where they do this practice.. it is indiscriminate.. I have seen owls and all kinds of beautiful creatures sacrificed to this so called tradition. I make a point of pulling down nets and taking down sticky sticks when I see them...& always will. I have come up against people who do this & they refuse to stop & so do I....

[@Tryinglittleleg]

Epiphany thanks you are doing a great deed

[@samomico9536]

Lol

[@pgood7266]

Yeah bullshit, it can’t Catch owls

[@zaramintheequanimous]

@@pgood7266 pigmy owls and baby owlettes can be caught in that, there's big and small birds including owls duhh ... Or you just too ignorant to know it ...

[@pgood7266]

Zaramin 18 pigmy owls don’t live there and baby owls don’t leave the nest until they are grown. You’re the ignorant one, never try to pretend like you are smart again

[@Munchies]

In this episode of _The Politics of Food_, we learn about the complicated issues surrounding illegal songbird poaching in Cyprus. Check out more episodes of _The Politics of Food_: bit.ly/Politics-of-Food

[@eleanakarayianni620]

How is it possible to publish such a fake video? There is not the real picture and Cyprus is definitely not a poor country! We have been affected by the European economic crisis but we are definitely not one of the poorest European countries!! England dealt with economic crash in 2008 as well, stop trying to humiliate Cypriot economic situation by publishing such a disgusting and non-sense video. People watching this are not stupid, they understand that this video is crap. At the end of the day you are humiliating yourselves and whoever worked to produced this video.

[@sekerim1]

Eleana Karayianni ey are , Lets see some now greecthis aint fake. i know Greeks eat birds they pickle them. Why do you assume its fake? because its negative?

[@eleanakarayianni620]

This is ridiculous! People eat chickens, pigeons, pigs and so many other animals and birds. The "fake" was referring to the way this video presents Greeks as the "bad guys" and as the poor people who have to eat this species of birds because they are starving. This is fake and ridiculous! It presents a fake point of view of Greek peoples lifestyle and food habits. Haha why are you referring to the bankruptcy? First of all this video is about Cypriots and you are referring to the Greek bankruptcy. This is stupid. Why are you arguing if you have no idea about Greek and Cypriot history, lifestyle, economic situation and politics. Stupid people

[@johnnywires3]

Eleana Karayianni vallis ton noun sou me tounton malaka?sioura en kanenas epikos pou shetta.aiston na pai ston thkiaolo.

[@sekerim1]

***** what i meant was greek cypriots eat them, I know, they pickle them, i dnt know if greeks from greece do though. Its common in Malta also and a couple of other places. It is decimating the local small bird population as hundreds are caught in the net, It aint good enough to say they like them, so do bounty hunters like killing lions and elephants etc for skins and tusks but hay, what will they do when they are extinct ,?? Many of these species are becoming endangered , Humans need to get a grip and bloody care about the world.

[@reesercliff]

couldn't they just raise and farm the birds? seems like a much more sustainable business model.

[@involuntaryanalysis]

Cliff Reeser Good point, but it would depend on how the birds respond to captivity.

[@kxmavr5803]

+Cliff Reeser Not really. Wild birds are almost impossible to breed in captivity. Especially if you re talking for big numbers to supply.

[@allmightlionthunder5515]

+Cliff Reeser they would need to learn stuff lol not what they want to do is open enlightenment to them selfs lol only thing i can say is that when they gone there gone say bye to eating them

[@GamingIsTheBest]

+Cliff Reeser they would if it wasn't fucking illegal by the EU

[@ney57e]

+KX Mavr If you have dedicated commercial resource, nothing is impossible. We've been saying farming Tuna was impossible for decades. Now, we're on the verge of a revolution.

[@mparker123]

THEY'RE FREAKING SMALL TINY BIRDS THAT SING! YEAH JUST DESTROY THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM! THEY DON'T EVEN MAKE THAT MUCH FOOD!

[@costas195]

@TheMoreSubsYouHaveTheGayerYouAre What the fuck are you talking about mate. Cyprus is the 35th richest country in the world compared to per capital GDP. Believe me, people don't hunt to survive here

[@generaldemolka4455]

@@costas195 "cHecK yOuR pRiVileDgE"

[@dustinmaxwell259]

Yeah, try telling that to the people that murder turtle doves. We sure as hell aren't going to run out of things to murder + eat in the southern half of the US. Why hunt something that makes such beautiful music?

[@TheMiamiTiger69]

22:37 Are you afraid of the police? - I'm not afraid of anyone. *wearing a nofear shirt while having a ski mask and voice changer* Cool story.

[@ajfandroid]

Hypotheticly. I'm not scared of death, doesn't mean I'll put a loaded gun to my head. I'm not scared of police doesn't mean ill post videos of all the crimes I commit.

[@user-pc1ow2qd7n]

@GoldenBadger wow aren't you edgy

[@MrBerto2828]

No snitching especially self snitching

[@rexfarcan]

@ArmchairWarrior he's cautious of police, not scared

[@joelmirabito7390]

Pussies, too afraid to admit their fear.

[@ghillzballer]

Traditional, very small scale trapping for family use should be separated from the industrial scale trapping of song birds. Individuals in Cyprus were able to harvest songbirds sustainably, maintaining a balance with nature for hundreds of years. But the industrial poaching and even large scale lime-sticking of these endangered species seems so wrong. Humanity is quickly destroying the planet using these same types of large scale harvesting practices- trawling comes to mind.

[@kyriakostempriotis3812]

It is not a widespread tradition despite what this documentary is saying. It is a tradition basically of the east part of cyprus. I am cypriot and i never had this "meze".

[@panathasg13]

e xaneis.

[@devinmills7757]

Well, it must be true. One man in Cyprus hasn't tried meze.

[@Redbird1504]

@@devinmills7757 It must be true, An American company sent a Brit to a foreign Nation.....

[@magnumllama400]

​@@panathasg13μιλά τι βάλλουν μέσα

[@registeredme]

the volume is too low

[@moekanz]

turn it up.

[@moekanz]

Bad audio? naah, Bad YOU!

[@PrincessHarmonyMoonlight]

it is a bit too quiet tho

[@gatatakiloulaki]

A very misinformed coverage. The reporter focuses on the area of Ayia Napa, a small municipality with many issues. In the large cities like Nicosia or Limassol it's hard to find locals who will agree with the practice. I was appalled by the shots that presented Cyprus as an undeveloped poor country whereas anyone who knows the island will know that this is not the case. Most acts and organizations against songbird poaching are run by locals, instead we see foreigners representing the good protectors and locals as the evil poachers (we do not see any locals opposing).

[@KeefeL]

Thank you for the truth

[@scriblemaker]

I agree there was a very strong colonial note in this doc. But a 15 million industry cannot be constrained in ayia napa.

[@photis666]

They keep quoting these stats and numbers, but we have no clear indications on how they measure this. It is just speculations on what they think it might be worth and the number of birds killed. Obviously, they have an interest to inflate the number. This is very much a dying industry in Cyprus and it's popularity declined rapidly since the 90s.

[@ejsandersg260]

Arent most the activists filmed Cypriat? Or did I just ssume lol

[@photis666]

EJ Sanders most activists are English and Italians, with some Cypriots.

[@chocho12321]

Best host on vice. Still trying to decide if I would prefer this kind of stuff on munchies or the main vice channel though

[@Christ191090]

I really appreciate the Vice network and their work. I agree with both the legal and ethical issues raised. But as others have already mentioned this is a very selective and dramatic depiction of the situation in Cyprus. And there are Cypriot activists that oppose these practices and are pretty vocal about it. That is why the society in Cyprus condemns these practices. A very good example of that would be the outrage that an MP caused by publicly admitting to eating song birds. It's not the "civilized" Europeans against the "uncivilized" Cypriots. It's more like people who hang on to this "tradition" and people who are against it. There is no need to generalize, or put labels on people. And I would encourage people commenting here to be more careful with their allegations. Using solid arguments against this idiotic tradition would be much more effective in stopping it rather than throwing unfounded allegations and accusing a whole nation for something that is caused by a minority.

[@comradegarrett1202]

it sounds like the British government is more culpable than the average Cypriot population honestly. it seems like young Cypriots want them to do a lot more to enforce the ban. as "guests in the country," why aren't they enforcing that country's laws?

[@mickvonbornemann3824]

Well what are you doing to stop the slaughter? Evil only exits when good people do nothing. Unless people like you go around & actively remove these lime sticks & mist nets & punish the pricks they'll keep the slaughter going. BTW poor people can't afford to spend every second day hanging around cafes. These are old buggers, meaning easy to punish by beating the fuck out of them. So get up & apply some behaviour modification training to these old farts.

[@mickvonbornemann3824]

Those British police should be sacked for not enforcing the law

[@mickvonbornemann3824]

If you buggers that are against it form 70% of the population you should be able to intimidate the other 30% into ending this practice. All the 70% have to do is show a willingness to be as violent as them. Look at the billions being spent in Ukraine due to a violent minority of Ukrainian Nazi thugs & bullies persecuting the people of Donbass for 8 years straight, they've changed the history of the planet.

[@Mrmudbone_gaming]

funny how that one guy is wearing a no fear shirt, but is afraid of getting caught.

[@Thatguyuknow2550]

I didn't notice that lol

[@AndreasFilms]

He actually said that he's not afraid of anyone.

[@matejmatej3554]

No fear doesn't mean stupid

[@overlord7877]

Dipshit there is a big difference between no fear and not been stupid.

[@WrecksReefsWildlife]

love the irony "he wishes to keep anonymous" wears balaclava and a shirst with the words "no fear"

[@MrSamHideki]

No meat on these birds, whats the point?

[@e443]

The taste of suffering is amazing.

[@MrSamHideki]

e443 does daddy and mummy troll not love you enough :(

[@e443]

Vorschlaghammer You must have confused my attempt of humor as trolling. It is not. My parents are dead!

[@MrSamHideki]

Nelson says "ha ha"

[@e443]

Vorschlaghammer :-) yeah I guess that's pretty funny.

[@kidcorder13]

I enjoyed the juxtaposition of a man wearing a No Fear shirt while simultaneously hiding his face.

[@leilanil476]

They eat guts bone and all. That's just nasty. Pop a bag of popcorn if you want some crunch. Freaking weirdos.

[@Goatschiss]

your comment is fucking retarded...

[@mariaisabelrodriguez4580]

Stop saying that somones traditional food is descasting

[@babafortnite4635]

We eat goat bones and guts and eyes, the fuck is wrong with that? In the middle east

[@___Truth___]

They literally eat the feces that's still in the birds, that's disgusting

[@meyanh6238]

What a great documentary. Seeing both sides, not particularly shaming or trying to cancel one is something I really miss. I think we all can agree which side we are on and yet you even tried this controversial dish on camera, keeping the film unbiased. Perfect journalism, we need more of that.

[@USCisgay]

Easy fix for this, set up a designated season for harvest with trapping licenses and bag limited.

[@JayXIsSad]

SOCAL3800 They're poachers not hunters. They don't give a shit about the law, and they're not doing it for food or even sport, they're doing it for money.

[@jacobraven7516]

But they sell the birds to people who eat them. By regulating licenses, the government can spend less time in hunting season and get some money out of selling licenses. Its a better solution, and it would make the locals a bit more happy.

[@Tryinglittleleg]

SOCAL3800 it's already banned dude! It won't matter they'll do it anyway!

[@panathasg13]

Thank you for your support with sensible suggestions

[@pl4free]

22:47 "we are unemployed, we can't pay for anything" - has pack of cigarettes on the table...

[@SprayedToTheBone2]

+pl4free If you look at poor disheveled societies , they all have something in common...drugs.And yes regular tobacco is basicly a drug.

[@pl4free]

Sup010101 mate, the guy is stating in the video that he's out of a job, out of money and killing small birds in order to feed himself. When you're in that kind of a situation you can't afford cigarettes... in that situation you buy the basics, not the unnecessary. Not to mention that depending on how much you smoke per day, you could end up spending more on cigarettes than on food...

[@alejandrochimal2583]

+IAMYOU in mexico you can buy chinesse cigarrettes per 1/4€ a 24 pack lol

[@Stromoto]

pl4free well he got the money from selling the birds sherlock

[@neochen7235]

And he is wearing cloth and shoes. What a shocker.

[@GiorgosY2829]

There are British documentaries about birds, that are a traditional Cypriot food, calling them massacre in Cyprus, while there is nothing about the continues violation of sovereignty, and illegal occupation of 36.2% of Cyprus by turkey, the two invasions, the numerous war crimes, the massacre of thousands of people, and the 1/3 of the population of Cyprus, being permanent refugees, even today, and not permitted to go to their homes, by the turkish army. There is also nothing about the current violation of the Cyprus seas by the turkey and the advancement in the green line a few moths ago. The hypocrisy in its highest level, and typically showing Cyprus as uncivilized and third world country. How else can they justify that? Don't forget to also make a documentary, about the hunting of foxes on England. showing them in blood, and saying how the future king of England has just massacred them.

[@PeachFlavoredKaiju]

The channel is about food, not really history. The name of the channel is munchies

[@subtleusername5475]

spot the butthurt brit and angry greek lol

[@subtleusername5475]

@Nasos Stmt @Llama this comment is three years old why are both of you replying so angrily

[@hughjanus3798]

It's wrong to tell people what food they can eat. Regardless of how cute you think the food is.

[@hughjanus3798]

***** Why?

[@fritzki1]

if the food in question is endangered then its more than okay to tell people to stop. first comes sustainability, THEN how "delicious" the food may be. use your brain, seriously, you're lucky to have been given one.

[@hughjanus3798]

***** There are between 100 and 400 billion birds in the world so plenty of birds.

[@fritzki1]

Hugh Janus 1. of these "between 100 and 400 billion" (holy shit, a guesstimate ranging 300 billion? very precise) not even nearly most of these birds would be good for consumption. 2. just because there's, seemingly, a lot of them around, there's no need to go about it in an unsustainable way and exhaust the resources. that's 80's thinking ("more, more, MORE, everything can be thrown away, new is better, don't recycle") and because of it we are facing a major threat in the coming half century. 3. just from a simple, moral perspective: why go around this earth destroying everything just because we can? i am by no means a hippy or some sort of weird vegan, judgmental asshole, but i still think we need to take care of this planet responsibly and with love, yes, with love. we have nowhere else to go

[@hughjanus3798]

***** Do you miss buffalo? Do you miss the platypus. Don't talk silly.

[@KingDennisJensen]

Ben is a great host, I enjoy his work.

[@caramela12fuffy]

I'm from Cyprus and I had no idea about this :O It's funny how little people hear about such issues :/ Anyway where did you find these criminals to talk to? xD

[@metalica732]

More episodes of "Politics of Food" need to be released for sure!

[@carlynascimbeni8549]

Oh my goodness! I had no idea about this!

[@xcvsdxvsx]

yea me either! i had no idea that i could eat song birds! exciting new avenues of flavor appear before me!

[@carlynascimbeni8549]

ALEX THEKID yeah, vegan.. grr.. I must be terrible since I don't eat flesh, blood, or puss.

[@skaybestrog]

***** bet you thought that was really funny when you hit that reply button. a literal just-end-your-life-now-tier joke, like actually embarrassing. 'how can I write something upvote worthy in the most forced way' - you and i don't even vegetarian, i eat that steak all day brah

[@xcvsdxvsx]

skaybestrog I thought it was clever. And yes i laughed out loud at my own joke. End of my life tier no. as far as how i chose to deliver it, i actually tried to write it in the simplest way, the way that used the fewest words.

[@rachetCD]

+chronos alpha lol

[@brendan8363]

I don’t know how I’m only discovering this channel now… You guys do amazing work covering complex stories. Keep it up!

[@sf443]

*The songbird from bioshock shows up* try and eat me :D

[@litamakotokino1329]

I lived in Cyprus for 5 months and I NEVER saw any of this happening nor did I see songbirds on ANY menus or a delicacy with ANY locals.

[@Davidplex]

Yeah because its illegal. They have to try and his it.

[@pix7562]

Could anyone hear the crying of the birds when he ripped the feathers ? ;( 😭😭😰😰😭😭

[@bjorlam8201]

I could only hear the rumbling of my stomach

[@DARKORBIT9995]

Bjorlam lol

[@Calmaressurgebat]

When he was pulling it out the net yeah, but the last scene it was already dead.

[@nastynate6010]

I made it my ringtone hahaha

[@maxs28]

Bjorlam wow ur well funny. Dickhead

[@MrSHG500]

just farm the damn birds. just make a few enclosures or an enclosed habitat zone for eating the songbirds

[@panathasg13]

you cant. these are birds migrating from colder climates .

[@mattybraps1745]

Am I the only one annoyed at the fact that he helped that environmentalist take down all the traps just to turn around and help someone else put more up?

[@shino8854]

You are right, he's your typical British Dickhead.

[@Sniperboy5551]

Did you like the video? I’m sure he informed the environmentalist where he put the traps up, he probably just came and cut them down. He’s a journalist, he’s doing his job. It adds to the story. Please tell me you aren’t that daft.

[@o0hotoko0o]

One of the biggest problems with anything that takes resources like this from the earth is the quantity in which it is taken. Thats the main problem in this case and it's sickening. Taking animals just for what a family needs for survival and nothing more is one thing, but to continuously harvest a resource over and over for profit is disgusting.

[@ExS1411]

When the bird cried my heart just broke.. 😭💔

[@paulillingworth4876]

This doesn’t just happen on the SBAs. I lived near Liopetri and I could hear the lures night after night. When I mentioned that I was tempted to report to the local police, not the SBA police, I was told that I would be putting the life of myself and my wife in danger from local gangsters.

[@mickvonbornemann3824]

Do it, Evil only exists when good people do nothing. So stop being a coward & do something, biodiversity is more important than peoples lives

[@riptear]

@@mickvonbornemann3824 lmao your child like mindset of "just band together" and "don't be a coward" is hilarious .

[@VolosVibes]

For me personally it's not so much the fact of eating songbirds (because anybody that eats chicken or duck is the same), it's the way of catching and killing them. It would be way better to have them in a pen all together and maybe once upon a time, gas them all... Or something other harm and stressless... Living in Greece I see a lot of stuff that doesn't happen anymore in many other places in the world, but it is a thing of mankind that we can adapt!

[@VolosVibes]

As well, by far the best video you guys have EVER made!

[@turtletube1392]

True.

[@VolosVibes]

Steven 유럽 은 똥 You must have misunderstood me... Leave the wild birds alone (so preserve them in their natural habitat) and if you want to have them for lunch or diner find a different way, just like we keep chickens in a pen.

[@n-shi9873]

Maarten Jongkind “gas them all in a pen” sounds familiar to you ?

[@K.N.H.]

Chicken and duck u can fill your stomach , that little birds u need like 10-20 of their live to fill your stomach for just 1 meal.

[@HuseyinAtaiEsengol]

Where exactly on the island is the restaurant at the end ?

[@michaelketchu8844]

I'd be fine with them eating these birds but the way of capturing them is fucked, also, their numbers are so damn low.

[@---nk4mk]

22:03 fuckin killed me... because it's sad to know that it is crying for help... I love birds and would spend any amount to help and save a bird but that fuckin broke my heart... 😭😭😭

[@J-GUT]

Me while eating a burger: how could people be so cruel

[@adambuchanon6392]

That's nasty ...

[@geeoffchin]

Ben is a really good correspondent, would like more of these informative segments vs idiots cooking a ham sandwich or something.

[@christosnikolaides]

+Munchies This video exposes a reality that goes on in Cyprus for a long time. Something that passed from tradition to criminal activity. However, I find the whole video driven by a need to dramatize the whole story by talking about poverty, crisis and setting a false image of ALL CYPRIOTS BEING BAD. There are bad apples in every country (as I am sure there are in the UK where fox hunting still lives on - is that tradition or criminal activity?) The "European activists" as stated in the description are actually Cypriots. I wonder why they do not qualify as Cypriots in your video. There are always two sides in a story, I just hoped you had done a wider research on the matter and get a better understanting of the sitiation.

[@jmoa5758]

But they are bad... bunch of nobodies in a shitty small island that contributed no notable achievenent for the advancement of mankind and will never be anything in history along with their people. In 1000 years people will still talk about the USA, China, Russia, Japan, South and North Korea, along with the UK, Germany, Italy, Greece but people will forget about shitty little Cyprus even more than they do today.

[@alexm9881]

@@jmoa5758 What a childish comment. Judging a whole country for a small scale tradition.

[@dirtsmegee]

I'm from Cyprus and the general feeling there is that this is fine. The problem occurs when they hunt too many of them and they vanish completely from the ecosystem.

[@BerchCerp]

It's not that it's bad or horrible that peoples are eating this bird. It's that the bird is in danger of being extinct. This fact doesn't make the bird taste bad. This host is just afraid to speak his mind.

[@arjan-nuts-gaming]

Any updates about this? Things happened or it just got worse?

[@sidneypaulis9468]

I am so angry right now, but when I think about the people who do this I can't help but to feel sorry for them. Because when karma comes around, boy o boy...

[@oXObsidianXo]

+Sidney Paulis Karma doesn't exist, it's a superstition made up by people with weak minds who can't accept someone getting away with a terrible deed.

[@robbzooi]

+oXObsidianXo thank you

[@truedarklander]

@TheMoreSubsYouHaveTheGayerYouAre or those who can't

[@crozraven]

human greediness at its very worst . . . .

[@cheaphydroponic1442]

going around collecting those recorders could be a business of its own.

[@kongxiong1105]

My dad use the same tactics back when he was a kid in Thailand to get food for his family.

[@Davidplex]

That's fair

[@DDSN]

so fucked up, i hope shit gets better and the bird recovers

[@Pambos1000]

You made a film about catching song birds in Cyprus. What do you think about fox hunting in England and bull killing in Spain.

[@kapaderos4983]

Pambos Charalambous Lets blame the others for our own shit. What an easy but dishonest way.

[@charalamboscharalambous8846]

***** you are very clever my friend. Some countries are allowed to kill animals for fun and some are not allowed to kill birds to eat them. Which country are you from?

[@sekerim1]

Pambos Charalambous im against all of that too, disgusting bull fighting, and fox hunting. These birds are part of the natural animal cycle they are not farmed therefore by killing them you are disturbing the food web and it will affect the fruit/ veg because more bugs will be able to survive and ruin the,m.

[@hamzanobes3265]

Also foxes and bulls are not an endangered species I don't agree with killing foxes or boss in the inhumane ways they do however they are not an endangered species

[@emamnuelbarrera8226]

"There" civilized European countries!

[@brunsta234]

the bullet proof vest says press but he puts it on under his shirt lol ...

[@ratatataraxia]

I’m more interested in how Ben went from model to journalist.

[@lamhuynguyen4724]

the guy that saved all those birds has a face really similar to GOD

[@kwonjeffrey]

what?

[@HardcoreJesus100]

Lâm Huy Nguyễn how do you know what God looks like lol... Do you mean Jesus?

[@bigdoggaming7438]

Life's not about memes.

[@jban2910]

Lâm Huy Nguyễn sorry no one knows what god looks like, not even jesus, jesus' first portrait was drawn from an artists muse

[@chessexy]

I watched your video about blackheads killing in Cyprus with interest . You have not investigated thorough the traditions in Cyprus . You say that eating and killing blackheads is part of traditional Cypriot customs. This is not the case I've never heard that and I lived in Cyprus for 23 years 1981-2003. It is perhaps the tradition of a small part of a village in Larnaca City which due to the occupation it took that route as a matter of survival following the war and occupation in 1974. It does not represents Cyprus tradition. It is as if I visit a country's poor neighbourhood that there is a systematic drug problem and making the statement that drug dealing is a part of tradition of that country. GD

[@panathasg13]

I am against using nets and speakers but i support the use of limesticks. Look at how much effort is going into this to make the limesticks to hunt. EU Respect our traditions

[@magnumllama400]

Φίλε σε τούτο το βίντεο τι βάλλουν μεσα και τι αναλογια

[@RSK412]

Can someone turn up the TV? I can't hear anything. 😂

[@UnlistedInvisibility]

I rather eat humans than songbirds, mainly because they are so freaking adorable. That's just me.

[@AlexParkerEmcee]

Do you bro

[@goodquestion5617]

You can find sparrows on the menu in varous parts of Asia. The first time I saw it was a restaurant in Kyoto but they were sold out. The second time was also in Kyoto but this time it was in a street market.stall so I bought one to try, the guts were cleaned out, leaving the head with its brains and the body and it was smaller than a small quail. The bird was skewered and grilled, its bones were so soft you can crunch them , didn`t have very much taste aside from the seasonings (mainly soy sauce and some kind of sweetening). The reason I said in various parts of Asia, even though I`ve only seen them in Japan, is because my dad told me about eating sparrows in China where he grew up. Also I was told that you find sparrows in Kyoto because it was a regional delicacy, you might not find this elsewhere in Japan as easily.

[@chuchuchanson]

What the hell is wrong with the audio levels?

[@tigranrshtuni9556]

how the hell are those sticks that sticky is it natural or did they use glue????

[@RobertPeters4674]

Hey Munchies in your "Show More" section above you talk about Crete but in the video they are on Cyprus. You might want fix the section above so as not to confuse people or to piss off Cretan.

[@Damnshegotcake]

8:06 you see the best restaurant in the entire world in the background

[@LexusAttari]

How many times can one person say 'basically'?

[@cuklabcusade]

volume is too low

[@OVERCAPITALIZE]

If you mass farm the birds then it's not a problem

[@genma986]

That's called industry.

[@genma986]

***** No but greed does.

[@genma986]

***** I do understand that but I dont think something is inherently bad but often its more of a decision about making a quick buck than something substainable.

[@TwoPlusTwoEqualsFive32]

I would be fine if they mass farmed them in a sustainable humane way. But they aren't, they are killing more than what the birds can recover from, and if they keep going there will be none left.

[@BennyGaberMusic]

DemonAMVs mass farming is rarely humane.

[@andrewzouvanis4805]

Well Brits used to hunt Foxes as a ''sport'', at least we eat them..Double standards anyone?

[@Joeykm1972]

Foxes eat livestock. Songbirds don't.

[@ellentaulbut9474]

@@Joeykm1972 Exactly, my parents knew a man who kept about 100 chickens and 10 ducks then one night a fox broke into the hen house and killed 98 of the chickens and 6 of the ducks. I'm not saying fox hunting is right of course but foxes are a menace.

[@GaGaCrazy333]

What made the sticks sticky?

[@babagooey7835]

That's a tiny bird, that has the same nutritional value as a fucking candy bar

[@AureaPersona]

The traditional small scale trapping is ok IMO, these birds are not threatened.

[@TheAurtherDent]

At 420ish he mentions the bird species is endangered.

[@xcvsdxvsx]

TheAurtherDent Every animal on the planet is some sort of "insert environmentalist bullshit word here". They are all "endangered" or "threatened" or w/e. Thats not to say that some animals aren't. There aren't a great deal of tigers left and its kind of a shame because tigers are so cool. But you just cant trust an environmentalist who tells you that his species of interest is "threatened".

[@ImYourDeity]

TheAurtherDent its a total lie, google it. The Lesser Whitethroat is of "least concern"

[@JareBearGloving]

***** So basically you're saying it's not true because how can you be sure if anything anyone ever says is true; all it is is a stupid excuse to not give a shit about an issue.

[@xcvsdxvsx]

JareBearGloving No im saying have you ever heard the story of the boy who cried wolf? Every animal on planet is endangered or threated to these people. Maybe its true but if so only because 99% of all species go extinct naturally. So even then it hardly makes sense to get ones panties in a wad over that.

[@hara3435]

I am disappointed in Cypriots they have little compassion for animals it seems. I have seen some awful cruelty to dogs over there. It is heartbreaking that such ignorance in the name of tradition exists.

[@ZombehFest]

Waste of a pretty little birdies life for a tiny bit of meat? In my opinion it's disgusting, I think any poacher who brings death to all he can deserves to die himself if caught. I'd have no issue if it was for survival reasons or something but this isn't, just a bunch of thugs looking to make some quick cash. Like people who raze areas with high biodiversity for charcoal. It's selfish because nature itself IS valuable.

[@RONGBODY96]

didnt expect munchies to be ignorant

[@JungolistMassif]

I bet theyd tasted better fried.

[@mparker123]

They'd*

[@Joeykm1972]

I think most Middle Eastern cultures prohibit frying foods due to cultural issues. But maybe Cyprus is different?

[@GartzosPyr]

How come u didnt film ur report on the turkish side of cyprus? U were afraid of something? Arent any song birds there? Or even better, why didnt u make a report about that fact, meaning that 1/3 of the Cyprus island is being still illegaly occupied by Turkey, rather than making a report about a tradition that will eventually die out in 5-10 years most prolly. Does that tradition hurt the birds population that badly? Why dont u mention that? I mean its effect on its population. Go do some serius job like see whats happening with the faulse nation north of Cyprus and why they are still there, and leave Cyprians with the bird alone.

[@kranjishnair92]

Man this is the darkest episode ever.

[@LouB3rt]

why is this video so quiet?

[@lil2Gutzthefalcondemigod]

this is a bit dark... ._.

[@pix7562]

lil2Gutz and sad

[@michaliskattirtzis9172]

but tasty AF its worth it trust me

[@applenice1069]

the host is so hot he keeps distracting me...

[@DanielS-zq2rr]

yes he is

[@clairedavis8564]

OMG Yes!!!!! 😅

[@youknowimright1725]

He is hot

[@alexabppp]

Omg hahah same so glad someone else said it first!!

[@Jukelikesgames]

*moist thots detected*

[@Glory_voyage]

Why eat the song birds after trying to save the birds...

[@edwardlee7955]

17:10 he’s saying “in inverted commas” where the subtitles don’t pick it up, had to look that up being an American English speaker

[@gioulatheodor5502]

YOU DO THE SAME WITH THE FOX HUNTING...REMEMBER DON'T FORGET THE FOX HUNTING!!!

[@JGZulu]

gioula theodor First of all, who is you? Second of all, the British have stopped!

[@averagesqueaker7121]

The tradition of foxhunting stopped.

[@charilaos15]

''British'' soil?

[@harry9yrs]

Yes as it is still part of the British empire the bases are classed as having British soil

[@giorgosmarinou1154]

+Harry Palmer they do pay for the bases I think

[@bobbyblair2112]

Chicken not good enough anymore?

[@harryscorah2091]

It’s a disgusting practice, truly cruel. The British Government need to take action to ensure that the operation on their sovereign territory is shut down.

[@TortlOdum]

let people eat what they bloody want, if it's traditional to eat something then keep it up, dont let the culture loose something that is clearly important to them

[@enriquecabrera2137]

Said the furry

[@denigeor3928]

im a Cypriot and im against this barbaric so called "tradition" the people who are doing it are just looking for a quick buck

[@joeboonmusic4004]

Oh yeah, lets carry on killing bulls in bullrings because it's 'tradition'. Let's keep up with the shark finning, because it's tradition. Why don't we keep bear-baiting too? That's tradition as well. What about using vultures brains to help us with our telepathy? That's a tradition too. Stop basing your ideology on the ignorant belief that we're superior. Our traditions aren't as important as an entire species. If traditions need to disappear to save a species, i don't give a fuck what it is.

[@Joeykm1972]

And when the birds go extinct, will they resort to cannibalism? Seems appropriate.

[@aaronaftershock]

the host is great, more munchies + ben ferguson !

[@danielalaxander3961]

My family live in Paphos and yes this a massive delicacy in the villages

[@mauddescamps7572]

when the species will be extinct a part of their culture will be gone for good. Sometimes, it is good to give up for the long run...

[@Sumschmuck]

Better idea, farm them like hell

[@jollyjokress3852]

​@@Sumschmuck I doubt you can farm migratory birds.

[@kraftuber]

In the Philippines we have only one songbird... Her name is Regine Velasquez...

[@PaulMichaelR]

Erm so I'm going to cyprus in 2 weeks does this mean I won't get to eat a song bird ?

[@myle1809]

information warfare is the worst warfare

[@pennylane1262]

This is the greatest crime against birds. I saw this with my own eyes in Cavo Greko innocent birds indiscriminatly sticking to the trees. I tried to save a couple of birds, taking them to the vet but its was too late. One was a perdiki the type they eat, the other a black bird that is not even eaten. A waste of 2 precious birds lives. Cypriots please hear these words: you must let this old tradition die, there are many food you can eat and have a clear conscience when you sleep at night. We are custodians of the earth. WE MUST PROTECT OUR BEAUTIFUL BIRDS.Can you imagine how sad the world would be without birds? May your Heart guide you.

[@Belisarius536]

yeah I hope they hear you and let their heart guide them and it their stomachs.

[@hippiechickite]

nothing to do with unemployment, its the rich who are at the root of the poaching, its just greed and the glory they get from serving this dish to each other.

[@leroyjenkins4811]

It amazes me that everyone too stupid to do the math. The more they hunt the birds, the more they destroy their futures. No control. No limits. No regulation. When the birds are extinct, they won’t have a living at all. They always ask “who is this hurting?” It’s hurting you, dummy!

[@ortem000]

Fantastic piece. Kudos.

[@spitfirefrench]

> A load of drug addicts act emotional whilst destroying tradition. Imagine my shock.

[@spitfirefrench]

@@peterl6095 Wow that sounds like a mighty big strawman to me

[@GeorgeWillia]

Is this only done on the Greek side of Cyprus?