Home World News Europe New report reveals 25 million birds illegally killed in the Mediterranean every...

New report reveals 25 million birds illegally killed in the Mediterranean every year

0

Unlawfully shot, trapped or poisoned: tens of millions of birds are being killed illegally each year around the Mediterranean, according to a scientific review carried out by BirdLife International, the first of its kind.

BirdLife International and Partners across the Mediterranean have uncovered the shocking extent, to which a number of species are being killed, putting together a list of the ten countries with the highest average number of birds being killed illegally each year.

Although countries currently hit by conflict, such as Syria and Libya, feature high in the rankings, a number of European countries also show a high rate of illegal killing.

Key findings

  • Italy, where an estimated 5.6 million birds are killed illegally annually, is second only to Egypt in the estimated mean number of illegal killings each year. Of the 348 species of birds that regularly occur in Italy, 43 per cent are being killed illegally in significant numbers.
  • The mean estimated number of illegally killed birds each year in Greece exceeds 704,000. The country is among the three worst countries for the illegal killing of European turtle dove, which numbers have declined by 78 per cent in Europe since 1980.
  • In France, an estimated 522,000 birds are illegally killed each year, with trapping the predominant form of illegal killing. Of the 349 species of birds assessed in France, around 32 per cent of them are killed in significant numbers; with Chaffinch and Robin among the worst affected.
  • The Famagusta area of Cyprus, which is on the east coast, is seen as the worst place in the Mediterranean for the mean estimate number of illegally killed birds each year. Around 689,000 are killed in Famagusta every year, with 248 birds killed per km2 in Cyprus (2.3 million).
  • The problem extends to British Territory in Cyprus, with the Dhekelia UK military base witnessing hundreds of thousands of birds being illegally killed every autumn; a significant proportion of the overall death toll on the island. In response the MOD has started a positive new programme of work to remove illegally-planted trees and shrubs, which the trapper use for cover and to lure in the birds.
  • Despite not featuring in the top ten, Malta, where 108,000 birds are estimated to be killed illegally every year, has the highest figure for the number of birds illegally killed per square kilometre, 343.
  • Other European countries that feature in the top ten are: Croatia (0.5 million) and Albania (0.3 million).

The report reveals estimates for the birds that are worst affected by illegal killing in the Mediterranean. Chaffinch tops the ‘kill list’ with an estimated 2.9 million killed every year, closely followed by blackcap (1.8 million), quail (1.6 million) and song thrush (1.2 million).

The paper also exposes some of the methods of killing used across the region, including; illegal shooting, catching in nets, gluing to branches and the use of birdsong recordings to lure different species to the illegally trapping locations.

Illegal hunting remains a conservation issue that is threatening the status of many birds throughout Europe. Species such as pallid harrier and Egyptian vulture are already on the European Red List; meaning they are of highest conservation priority and illegal killing – even in small numbers – will have serious effects on their numbers.

Tim Stowe, RSPB International Director, said: “The illegal killing of tens of millions of birds around the Mediterranean, highlighted in this report, is a source of lasting shame. It’s time that action is taken to put an end to the killing, especially in the European Union where nature laws should be protecting vulnerable species. If properly implemented and enforced, the EU Birds Directive would provide the necessary protection for a number of birds that feature in this report, and in time reduce the needless illegal killing.

“We have seen positive steps taken this year to reduce the rate of illegal killing of birds, in places such as the Dhekelia British Sovereign Base Area, Cyprus. Now we need to put pressure on the rest of the EU to follow this example to ensure safer flyways for birds migrating between continents.”

Patricia Zurita, BirdLife International CEO, stated: “This review shows the gruesome extent to which birds are being illegally killed in the Mediterranean. Populations of some species that were once abundant in Europe are declining, with a number even in free-fall and disappearing altogether.

“Our birds deserve safer flyways and we want conservation efforts to be increased now, before it’s too late.”

The publication comes ahead of BirdFair 2015, the world’s largest nature festival that is taking place at Rutland Water Nature Reserve, Leicestershire, this weekend. Every year the event raises funds for important conservation work, and this year Birdfair will support projects combating illegal killing of birds in the eastern Mediterranean. For more information: birdfair.org.uk.

The data in this review previews a scientific paper due to be published at a later date, giving a full assessment of the situation in the Mediterranean.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here