Three people caught placing poison baits intended for protected birds of prey have been sentenced to a year and four months prison and fined more than €24 300.
The reduction in illegal poison incidents affecting protected in Spain is the main aim of the ongoing VENENO NO LIFE Nature project. The convictions represent a major step in the successful implementation of a national strategy against the use of poisoned bait, which the project is helping draw up. The sentences also demonstrate the effectiveness of the regional patrols and action plans that the project is aiming to establish.
The priority species targeted by the project include the Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti), the Lammergeier vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), the red kite (Milvus milvus) and the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) (including the Canary Islands subspecies) – all are listed in the Birds and Habitats Directive.
The project is also working to put in place greater controls on the sale of licensed toxic products and increase public support for the prevention of their use.
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