“European Hunters Exploit Poor Law Enforcement to Poach Endangered Birds in Egypt”
In a disturbing turn of events, it has been revealed that European hunters are taking advantage of lax law enforcement in Egypt to carry out a killing spree of protected birds. A 15-month long investigation by The New Arab has uncovered how Maltese hunters are evading European Union (EU) restrictions to poach in Egypt, targeting species that are protected by millions in EU conservation funds.
In a shocking move in 2024, Egypt’s environment ministry expanded tourist hunting zones to new areas, including the New Valley and Sohag. This decision has allowed hunters to target endangered species such as the Egyptian Vulture, the Osprey, and the Lanner Falcon, all of which are classified as endangered. Additionally, the Northern Lapwing and the European Turtle Dove, both vulnerable in the EU, have also become targets for these hunters.
Surprisingly, the EU has invested a staggering €36,451,669 million since 1996 to protect these very same species, including the Egyptian Vulture, Osprey, Lanner Falcon, and Turtle Dove. This means that European taxpayers are paying to protect these birds in Europe, while European hunters are paying to kill them in Egypt. This raises questions about the battle between tradition and conservation, and whether birdwatching is a more sustainable alternative to hunting or if hunters should be involved in conservation programs.
This investigation, which has been partially funded by the Journalism Fund Europe, has been co-published by The Shift News and Conservation and Environmental Science News – Mongabay in the form of edited versions. The full report can be accessed here.
For media inquiries, please contact Investigative Editor Andrea Glioti at andrea.glioti@newarab.com.
