Australia seizes thousands of rare bird eggs

Australian authorities have seized a collection of some 3,404 eggs from rare birds after a European operation into the illegal wildlife trade. Investigators discovered the ‘haul’ that is believed the be worth A$400,000 to A$500,000 (£207,000 – £259,000), at a property in Tasmania.

The eggs had been blown or hollowed out, making their value purely ornamental. A 62-year-old man was under investigation but officials have yet to make any arrests. Environmental and wildlife crime is among the planet’s biggest and most profitable, continuing to grow and push many species towards extinction. The Australian suspect is expected to appear in court at a later date for offences related to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999.

The eggs are being analysed to confirm what species they belonged to but it is believed to be a rare and threatened species on the brink of extinction. Investigators believe that they include eggs from the forty-spotted pardalote, found only on Bruny Island in Tasmania, along with the swift parrot and the shy albatross. The egg white and yolk had been removed from the eggs.

European authorities had launched the investigation in relation to illegal harvesting, collecting, trading, buying, and selling of bird eggs both in Europe and internationally. Search warrants resulted in over 56,000 eggs being seized.

“[The man] is alleged to have been involved in the collection and harvesting of bird eggs from the wild and trading of both Australian native and CITES-listed bird eggs with people overseas,” according to a spokesperson from the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

CITIES-listed refers to a species being on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITIES). This is an international agreement between governments that hopes to combat the illegal international trade of endangered plants and animals.