Goldfinches seized in Palermo Italy
A young man from Palermo was caught by the Forestry Carabinieri of the Centro Anti Natura Crimes of Palermo, Nucleo CITES, for possesion of protected wildlife iInside his home.
The Caribinieri found a cage with 19 live specimens of Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), a species protected by the Bern Convention, caught in the wild and destined for the black market (presumably Ballarò)
The seized specimens were taken to the LIPU Wildlife Recovery Center in the Ficuzza forest for their release.
LIPU Palermo gave the following statement: “Thanks to the Forestry Carabinieri of the Cites Nucleus of Palermo for this intervention which shows, once again, that poaching of goldfinches is still flourishing and also practiced by young people” declared LIPU. “Every Sunday morning, in fact, there are still many fowlers who display dozens of goldfinches for sale on markets.. A trade that is difficult to eradicate but that can only end with continuous interventions and safeguards by all the Police Forces and thanks also to the reports of citizens and associations, especially in the capture sites and warehouses where the animals are kept. ” .
This intervention, in fact, was only one of many carried out by the Carabinieri of the Cites of Palermo in recent weeks, engaged on several fronts in different provinces and areas of Sicilly. Several poachers and fowlers try to sell protected brids using well-known websites, but these are now also known by Caribinieri.
Source: Lipu Press release 12-10-2020
Photo credits: Caribinieri CITES Palermo
via The IMPEL-ESIX team