In a coordinated operation to combat the illegal trapping of migratory birds, more than 800 meters of bird extermination nets were removed in the Mount Lebanon town of Barja—one of the country’s most notorious trapping hotspots.
The action was launched following a documented complaint submitted by pro-regulation, hunters, including photo evidence and GPS coordinates showing large-scale trapping nets in multiple locations. A team from the Anti-Poaching Unit (APU), conducted field investigations, which led to the discovery of the active trapping site.
The site were dismantled in coordination with officers from the Lebanese Internal Security Forces. Unfortunately, the perpetrators behind the traps remain unidentified. However, today’s operation sends a strong message: net hunting is among the most destructive and indiscriminate methods of bird poaching, contributing to the extermination of vulnerable species and bearing no resemblance to traditional or responsible hunting practices.
Lebanon continues to struggle with the illegal mass trapping of songbirds for black market trade, where they are killed and sold as a traditional delicacy known locally as Tayan. This mission is part of a broader campaign to crack down on such practices.
About the Anti-Poaching Unit
The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) established the Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) in partnership with the international Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) and the Middle East Sustainable Hunting Center (MESHC).
The unit aims to monitor and prevent illegal practices that threaten birds and wildlife in Lebanon. With trained field teams, the unit conducts awareness campaigns, monitors hunting areas, and coordinates with authorities to enforce environmental laws, contributing to the protection of endangered species and the sustainability of ecosystems.
Supported by more than 40 volunteers and environmental activists, the unit carries out multiple initiatives to combat poaching. Its success is bolstered by generous support from the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, the EU-funded BioConnect Project, and its partnership with BirdLife International.
The unit operates within a national environmental alliance involving Internal Security Forces, the Lebanese Army under the Ministry of Defense, forest rangers from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment, municipal federations, local councils, and municipal police. Together, they work to promote sustainable hunting practices, enforce wildlife protection laws, and safeguard Lebanon’s rich biodiversity.
