Israel Police and the Nature and Parks Authority on Sunday arrested two suspects for attempting to smuggle eight rare Gouldian finches worth an estimated total of $30,000 Italy to Israel.
The operation began with intelligence that was received about a plot to smuggle the rare birds from Italy to Israel. Inspectors of the Nature and Parks Authority, together with police, arrived on Sunday at the Ovda Airport, some 40 miles north of the city of Eilat in southern Israel. They located the suspects, who kept
two cages bird cages hidden in suitcases.
The Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae), a.k.a. the Lady Gouldian finch, Gould’s finch or the rainbow finch, is a colorful passerine bird native to Australia. It was named by British ornithological artist John Gould in 1844 in honor of his deceased wife Elizabeth.
The Gouldian finch is classified as a protected natural asset, and therefore importing and trading them requires a special permit from the Nature Authority.
The two suspects—a resident of Nahariya and a resident of Eilat in their 50s—were at Ovda airport after departing from a flight that had left Milan, Italy. The two were detained for questioning.
Upon completion of the investigation, the birds were transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture for further treatment.
According to Eran Himes, director of the Arava region in the Nature and Parks Authority, “the phenomenon of smuggling birds in violation of the law and without the necessary permits is familiar, and the NPA, together with law enforcement agencies, are working around the clock to put an end to it.”
“These are sophisticated criminals who use various methods, unacceptable and cruel, to smuggle birds to and from Israel for greed,” Himes continued, stressing that “cooperation with law enforcement agencies, including the Israel Police, customs officials, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Agriculture is welcome and necessary in order to reduce this phenomenon.”