Help us halt illegal hunting

• Illegal hunting in southern Europe
• Conservation impact
• Legislation
• What is the RSPB doing?
• Cyprus
• France
• Greece
• Italy
• Malta
• Portugal
• Spain

Illegal hunting of birds in southern Europe

Bee-eaters are among the species to fall victim to illegal hunting

Many people, both residents and visitors, are appalled by the scale of illegal hunting practices in Mediterranean countries. The hunters involved are often passionate about what they see as traditional sport.

Hunting is illegal when it is carried out during the closed season, when illegal methods are used and when protected species are affected. 

Species are hunted for food, taxidermy and target practice. Live-trapping is also carried out so the birds can be used as caged pets or as decoys. 

How birds are trapped

Methods include:

• Lime sticks – sticks covered in glue to which birds adhere when they land on them
• Clap nets, box nets and snares - where a mechanism is triggered by a bird in the trap
• Lures - such as live decoys, food bait or sound recordings of bird song, to attract birds into the trapping area
• Mist nets – nets strung between two points and so fine that they are almost invisible to the birds     

We want to stop illegal hunting

The RSPB believes in:

• Enforcing existing laws, at European, regional and national levels
• Educating people in the countries concerned about hunting legislation
• Mobilising public opposition to illegal hunting
• Above all, co-operating within the BirdLife International Partnership, and supporting our BirdLife Partners to take the necessary action in their countries. 

Last modified: 29 June 2006

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