Poaching and black market of protected birds: fifteen complaints filed

Fifteen poachers and buyers were caught in the network. This is the result of a large-scale operation conducted in the province of Cagliari and southern Sardinia by the Carabinieri Forestry Corps of the Cagliari CITES Unit with the support of the SOARDA (Anti-Poaching and Animal Crime Operational Section), the CUFAA (Forestry, Environmental, and Agri-food Unit Command), and the information provided by the Carabinieri territorial stations of the provinces of Cagliari and Oristano.

Specifically, two residents of the Cagliari area were caught without hunting licenses while activating snares to capture wild boars. Following searches, 24 metal snares were found and seized. If convicted, they face prison terms ranging from six months to three years and a fine of €154 to €516.

Two others were caught hunting in southern Sardinia, long after the hunting season closed. They were also using numerous, deadly spring traps to capture small migratory birds. If convicted, they face a prison sentence of three months to a year, or a fine of €1,800 to €5,000, as well as the revocation of their rifle license.

Furthermore, in the Province of Cagliari, three poachers were caught in possession of wild birds of particularly protected species captured using three "cage traps".

Five others were charged with receiving stolen goods after being caught in possession of numerous specimens of protected bird species of illegal origin. Finally, three others were charged with reckless purchase, as they were found to have purchased specimens of protected wild bird species of illegal origin under various circumstances.

During the massive operation, several paths dotted with numerous active aerial traps were also "cleared" with the help of several volunteer associations, some of which had been used to trap protected species such as robins and thrushes.

(Unioneonline)