Birds smuggled from Ukraine to Arab countries
The Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading bill No. 2351, which will protect birds, as well as increase the punishment for cruelty to animals. Particular attention will be paid to animal smuggling and poaching.
According to the State Consumer Service, from 2014 to 2017. in the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and so on. 179.9 thousand small decorative birds were exported, namely bullfinches, tits, carduelis, siskins, etc.
“In four years, about 200 thousand of our birds were exported. And the thing is that these birds are smuggled,” explains Vladimir Boreyko, director of the Kiev Environmental and Cultural Center.
Officially, all these birds allegedly have veterinary passports, but in reality they are listed in the Berne Convention and they cannot be exported.
“There is no article in the Criminal Code on which these smugglers could be imprisoned. There is an article only in the Administrative Code, and there is a fine of 200 UAH. And what is 200 UAH if one bird costs at least $ 100,” Boreyko explains and adds that, for example, only a female peregrine falcon costs about one million dollars.
Experts hope that the adoption of a new bill will help rectify this situation and introduce punishment for smugglers in Ukrainian legislation. Boreyko adds that the Rada will tentatively be able to pass the bill in the second reading already in May.
Source: Segodnya