Italien – 19. 07. 2024

International bird trafficking ring brought down in Italy.

19.07.2024

Thousands of wild chicks taken from nests and adult birds trapped in nets in Poland, transported to the Italian border and subsequently sold on to breeders who fit the birds with fake rings in an effort to make them appear as captive bred birds – before being sold on for use as live decoys for hunters who force the animals to a life of confinement and severe suffering. The huge operation was conducted by 131 Carabinieri forest police officers, as well as expert witnesses from LIPU and Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) and involved 15 raids against 14 suspects across several regions within Italy. During the raids, almost 800 thrushes, blackbirds and fieldfare were seized and a further 200 birds were found already dead. It is estimated that this illicit black-market business is worth around 15 million euro each year.

A press release (in Italian) is available here.