Wildlife Crime Uncovered in Lower Saxony

Bird trapper exposed in Schaumburg

Police and nature conservation authorities have taken action against an alleged animal trader and bird trapper in the Schaumburg district (Lower Saxony).

During an inspection in the municipality of Haste at the beginning of the year, several traps and nets for catching birds as well as numerous live songbirds were discovered and seized on the suspect's property. Inside the man's home, more than 50 frozen and stuffed birds, including owls, an eagle, a black kite and several sparrowhawks, were also confiscated.

Komitee gegen den Vogelmord filed criminal charges

The man came to the attention of the authorities following a complaint by the Komitee gegen den Vogelmord, whose staff had documented the man's activities the previous year and subsequently filed charges with the public prosecutor's office in Bückeburg. The suspicion concerned the illegal trapping and keeping of native songbirds. In order to sell birds, the man had placed advertisements on the portal «Tierflohmarkt.de», among other platforms.

The seized songbirds were taken by the authorities to a wildlife care station and are to be released back into the wild as quickly as possible. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against the man on suspicion of violations of the Federal Nature Conservation Act, the Animal Welfare Act and firearms regulations. More on the topic of crime and hunting.