Nicosia, Cyprus. NGO PI Animal Welfare Initiatives has called for a ban on offering live animals as prizes in lotteries and fairground games, citing serious risks to animal welfare.
The Lithuania-based organisation said the practice remained common at fairs, festivals and public events in Cyprus.
Welfare concerns
The NGO condemned the use of ducklings, baby turtles and rabbits as prizes or cheap impulse purchases and urged authorities to introduce a comprehensive ban on live animals in commercial entertainment attractions.
It said crowded festivals and fairs created stressful conditions for young animals, including noise, extreme temperatures, inadequate hydration and frequent handling. According to the organisation, these conditions can cause suffering and high mortality rates.
Risk of neglect
PI Animal Welfare Initiatives said animals won as prizes or purchased impulsively often did not receive the care they required, leading to neglect or abandonment.
It added that such cases placed what it described as an unfair burden on local animal shelters and rescue groups.
Call for legal action
The organisation said treating animals as disposable toys or marketing devices undermined European animal welfare standards and sent a damaging message to younger generations about the value of animal life.
It urged authorities to align national legislation with European standards by prohibiting the use of live animals as prizes, saying the measure would strengthen animal welfare protections in Cyprus.
