In a major coordinated operation, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), through its Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) jointly operated with MESHC and in partnership with the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS), dismantled one of the largest illegal bird trapping sites ever recorded in Lebanon. The operation took place in Aabdeh, a coastal town in northern Lebanon, with the active participation of officers from the Lebanese Internal Security Forces.
Across several lime orchards and agricultural plots, the joint team discovered and dismantled 55 mist-nets with a staggering total length of around 1,250 metres. This “trapping farm” was operating on an industrial scale, capturing between 1,000 and 1,500 migratory birds every day during peak migration season.
During the intervention, approximately 500 freshly caught birds were found, of which 300 were still alive. The APU team cut them loose and released a variety of species including garden warblers, blackcaps, lesser whitethroat, chiffchaffs, reed warblers, whinchats, red-backed shrikes, scops owls, and even a corncrake and Egyptian fruit bat.
Despite growing tension on-site, the operation was completed under police protection. The APU safely removed around 150 birds, most of which were later released unharmed in a quiet natural location. Unfortunately, some birds perished from stress and exhaustion — a stark reminder of the devastating impact of illegal trapping.
Criminal proceedings have been initiated against the landowners responsible for operating this illegal facility. SPNL, MESHC, and CABS have pledged to follow up on the case to ensure full accountability under Lebanese environmental and wildlife protection laws.
“This is the largest illegal bird-trapping facility documented in the 40-year history of SPNL, and one of the most alarming examples of industrial-scale poaching in Lebanon,” said Assad Serhal, Director General of SPNL. “Such actions threaten not only wildlife but also Lebanon’s reputation as a country along the world’s most important bird migration corridor.”
About the Anti-Poaching Unit (APU)
The APU is jointly operated by MESHC and SPNL, supported by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, in collaboration with BirdLife International and in partnership with Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS). All operations are conducted in close coordination with Lebanese authorities, including the Internal Security Forces, Intelligence and Investigations Branch, and Military Intelligence. The work of the APU also contributes to the BioConnect Project, a 45-month initiative funded by the European Union.
📹 Watch the full video of the operation on CABS official YouTube channel:
