Albania is losing its national bird to rampant poaching

Albania is losing its national bird to rampant poaching

Context

It is Albania’s national symbol, but the eagle may soon only be found on the flag. The majestic bird is threatened with extinction due to widespread poaching of raptors

Species: Common Buzzard

Country: Albania

IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC)

Protected species

The buzzard is a protected species just like the golden eagle

Up for sale

Whether the customers want to stuff them or to keep them in captivity, they can find these birds for sale on the street

Expert view

• According to experts, some 25 years ago there were between 100 and 200 couples of golden eagles
• As per Mirjan Topi, author of Albania’s first bird guide, that number today has been cut in half, “a dramatic decline”

Least concern

On a global scale, the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is not classified as a threatened species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Hunting ban

There has been a hunting ban in Albania since 2014. Authorities say it has curtailed a large number of the 2,000-3,000 Italian hunters who are estimated to have killed more than 150,000 birds, including hundreds of raptors over the last decade

• Now there are plans to toughen the law, including prison terms for all offences that contribute to the disappearance of protected animals

Another threat

Another threat, perhaps even more insidious, hangs over the raptors: the poisoned carcasses that shepherds leave in the field to protect their flocks from wolves.

• A single carcass is enough to kill several vultures if they find it before the wolf,” says Nexhip Hysolokaj, an environmental expert in the Orikum region where in March, six eagles and vultures were found dead from poison
• Fines have never been issued over this practice which shepherds seem to have no intention of giving up