Between 24 and 26 November 2017 Carabinieri Forestali, with the technical support of Lipu volunteers and in cooperation with Road Police, carried out checks on the cars of the bird owners on route to and at the International Cage Bird Fair in Reggio Emilia (N Italy).
As a result 335 wild caught birds were seized and will be released following veterinarian checks.10 people were reported to the Magistrate and 6 administrative fines for a total of 50,000 Euros were given.
All seized birds had ‘closed’ rings with clear (to a trained eye!) signs of being altered. Captive-bred new-born bird legally detained are fit, soon after hutching, with closed rings which cannot not be used on wild caught fledged birds as they would not fit. Unfortunately this system is not safe and often only experienced personnel can identify the signs of tampering.
Among the 335 birds there were Goldfinches, Serins, Hawfinches, Robins, Bramblings, Chaffinches, Blackcaps and Blue throats and 6 Red-headed lovebird (Agapornis pullarius) which is a CITES species
Seizure data
- Alive
- Date of seizure: November 25, 2017
- Numbers of seized birds: 335
- Country: Italy
- Species: Passerines (songbirds)