Outrage over rare birds killed for Italian diners
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Environmentalists in Serbia were outraged after the chance discovery of a refrigerated container lorry on the border with Croatia containing thousands of small birds apparently destined for restaurants in Italy.
Environmentalists in Serbia were outraged after the chance discovery of a refrigerated container lorry on the border with Croatia containing thousands of small birds apparently destined for restaurants in Italy.
The discovery highlights the degree to which wildlife protection measures, so strict in northern Europe, remain full of holes while trappers continue to kill migrating birds over the Mediterranean and the Balkans.
The birds only came to light after Croatian customs officials at the Sid-Tovarnik crossing - on the motorway connecting Serbia, Croatia and northern Italy - ordered the driver of a lorry bound for Italy to open his truck.
Environmentalists said the trappers may have been acting under the orders of the birds' purchasers in Italy. Many of the birds belonged to some of Europe's scarcer species. Aleksandar Tadic, of the Society for the Protection of Wild Birds, told the Serbian newspaper Politika that it was "obvious our state is not aiming to halt this kind of criminal activity". The cargo was worth tens of thousands of euros - a temptation to many in a country where the average monthly wage is about €200.
Marcus Tanner is Balkans editor for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments