Cejkovice, South Moravia, June 12 (CTK) – An unknown offender has clogged dozens of bird nests with expanding foam in Cejkovice, for which he may face up to five years in prison, local police spokesman Petr Zamecnik told CTK today.
In late May, the offender used expanding foam to clog the inflight holes of 57 nests of the European bee-eater, a rare protected bird that nests in colonies in sandy banks.
About ten of the nests were occupied and the foam prevented birds from getting in or out. Their lives were endangered.
Fortunately, the foam was quickly removed by the Czech Environmental Inspection (CIZP) officers.
“By sheer coincidence, our inspectors were visiting the area to check another case. When they learnt about the unbelievable barbarous step, they could immediately intervene,” regional CIZP branch director Jindrich Mikes said previously.
If caught, the perpetrator will be accused of unauthorised handling of protected wildlife species, Zamecnik said.
If no criminal offence were proved on the part of the perpetrator, the CIZP could fine him up to 100,000 crowns for endangering the development of a strictly protected bird species.
Ornithologists estimate that some 800 – 1,000 European bee-eater pairs nests in the Czech Republic, mainly in south and southeast Moravia.
($1=23.463 crowns)
rtj/dr/kva
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