For years, seeing flamingos at Akrotiri Salt Lake was a winter highlight in Cyprus. Thousands of pink birds on the water created a beautiful scene, showing that Cyprus is on a major migratory route in the Mediterranean. But this year, everything has changed.
Recent reports to the Parliamentary Environment Committee reveal a shocking drop in flamingo numbers. Last month, only 47 flamingos were counted at Akrotiri Salt Lake and Makria Lake, down from 13,000 in previous years. This clearly shows that the ecosystem is in trouble.
An internationally significant wetland in crisis
Akrotiri Salt Lake and Makria Lake are protected under the Ramsar Convention and host about 2% of all bird species in Cyprus. They are vital wetlands for the island, but now they are facing serious ecological collapse.
Nikos Kasinis, a senior officer at the Game Service, raised concerns about water quality. He noted that the water reaching the lakes can no longer support bird life. Even during droughts, the presence of water suggests pollution rather than natural sources.
“The system has collapsed”
Environmental groups like BirdLife Cyprus and Terra Cypria are sounding the alarm about this collapse. The water no longer supports bird life, and Makria Lake has become marshy with sewage runoff.
Large developments in the area seem to be making things worse. There are complaints that contractors are discharging water without following environmental rules, causing lasting damage to the wetland.
Anarchy, sewage, and delays
Kouris Mayor Pantelis Georgiou expressed serious concerns about the situation. He has been working with eight different groups from Cyprus and British Bases since last autumn. He pointed out chaos in the area, where Asomatos and Akrotiri communities still lack a sewage system.
The risk of permanent contamination of the aquifer is now clear. The mayor mentioned that specific sources of sewage from places not connected to the system have already been identified and cut off.
There are also troubling reports of a pipeline near Lady’s Mile area where up to 500 tons of raw sewage are dumped every hour in spots where people swim and fish.
Call for immediate action
During discussions in Parliament, MPs expressed frustration over delays in addressing these issues. They talked about ongoing environmental crimes and called for an investigation by the Audit Office into how Akrotiri Salt Lake is managed.
The Environment Committee warned that if urgent action isn’t taken soon, half of Akrotiri could be lost within years. This would have irreversible effects on biodiversity and public health.
The silence of flamingos is more than just an environmental issue. It’s a warning about how neglect, uncontrolled development, and slow decision-making can destroy what nature took centuries to create in just a few years.
