In a joint operation carried out last Saturday, whereby thanks to information received and relayed by BirdLife Malta to the Environmental Protection Unit of The Malta Police Force (EPU), a ship incoming from Tunisia was found to be smuggling a total of 29 Greenfinches destined to be sold illegally.

Two of the finches unfortunately died in transit, while the rest have been handed over to Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU), BLM said.

BirdLife Malta expressed its thanks to the Environmental Protection Unit of The Malta Police Force (EPU), ERA – Environment & Resources Authority and Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) for their assistance in the joint operation.

“As October sets in for another possible fake research season permitting the trapping of finches, the demand for finches to be used as live decoys for trapping is at an all time high, fuelling such smuggling operations to enable trappers to buy and stock such live birds for the season,” stated BirdLife Malta.

The NGO said that anyone having any information on the illegal smuggling and selling of such birds, can contact BirdLife Malta anonymously by calling them on 21347645 or 7925 5697.

Photos: BirdLife Malta

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