English man arrested in Bulgaria for egg collecting

Griffon vulture eggs were amongst those found in the possession of the man.

December 2011. A tip-off to the RSPB has led to an international wildlife crime operation to raid the home of an Englishman in Bulgaria. A collection of eggs has been seized, including the egg of a griffon vulture which is a threatened species in Bulgaria.

Officers from the RSPB - and its Bulgarian partner BSPB - assisted Bulgarian police with the raid, which took place at an address in the coastal city of Burgas. The case - the first of its kind in Bulgaria - has involved information being passed from the RSPB to the Bulgarian authorities via the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU).

Egg collection
Guy Shorrock is an RSPB investigations officer who has been involved with this case. Speaking from Burgas, he said: "We've been investigating this lead with keen interest. We're delighted that this international operation has led to the seizure of wild birds' eggs. In addition to the eggs, officers also seized egg-collecting equipment and climbing gear."

Five clutches of wild birds' eggs from four species were seized by the police, namely griffon vulture; collared pratincole (a scarce southern European wading bird); ortolan bunting and blackcap.

Guy Shorrock added: "It is disturbing that a collection of wild birds' eggs has been seized in Bulgaria which has so many threatened and vulnerable species. We are very concerned that countries like this may be vulnerable to egg collecting as they have no history of investigating these types of offences."

Bulgaria has a number of bird species which are facing global extinction, including: imperial eagle, saker falcon, Egyptian vulture, great bustard, white-headed duck and the Dalmatian pelican.