Stop the Slaughter

Each year, 25,000,000 birds are illegally killed across the Mediterranean. Criminally shot for sport, trapped in nets and glue, or poisoned. Their deaths are gruesome and preventable.

Photography by Birdlife Malta

More than one million European Turtle-doves are still illegally killed each year.

Despite legal protections and promises of a “zero tolerance” to illegal killing, birds are still not safe to fly throughout the Mediterranean. Laws to protect birds are being rolled back. Fines and punishments, if any, are not severe enough to deter hunters and in some places, they are even being reduced.

Hunting the European Turtle-dove during its breeding season is forbidden by EU law. Despite this, the species has declined by 30% throughout Europe in the last 20 years, and in some countries by as much as 90% in the same period.

BirdLife and our Partners are committed to changing hearts and minds, and challenging governments to stop illegal killing.

We have teams in the field across the Mediterranean, monitoring, detecting and reporting wildlife crime to ensure that these crimes are punished. This robust field data is used to lobby governments and push for better regulation and enforcement. We have already been instrumental in securing a moratorium in western Europe.

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