In response to documented complaints submitted by sustainable hunters in North Lebanon, the joint Lebanese–international operations team of the Anti-Poaching Unit, in coordination with the Gendarmerie Command and in close collaboration with the North Investigations Unit, carried out a targeted operation against illegal night hunting in the areas of Bino and Abdeh.
Night hunting has become a deeply rooted illegal practice in Lebanon, especially during bird migration season. On weekends, gangs of men gather in remote areas across the country to shoot birds under the cover of darkness. Using large spotlights, lasers, and loud electronic decoys, these gatherings are often treated as “fun” social events, despite the severe ecological damage they cause.
During the latest operation in North Lebanon, nine individuals were arrested, while six hunting rifles, several electronic decoys, and high-powered spotlights and projectors used in night hunting were confiscated. Several other hunters fled upon seeing the patrols, with their vehicle license plates documented for follow-up by the competent security authorities.
This field action is part of a larger series of intensified operations this autumn. In September, the Lebanese Army conducted raids in the hills above Danniyeh, one of the country’s largest poaching hotspots, disrupting illegal shooting of protected species such as nightjars, corncrakes, and owls.
The Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) affirms its commitment to working with the security forces to curb illegal hunting nationwide. Recent efforts have attracted significant media attention, with widespread coverage in regional newspapers and television stations. Last night, CABS Wildlife Crime Officer Shereen Bou Raffoul appeared on the LBCI evening news, highlighting the destructive impact of night shooting and large-scale bird trapping, and praising the increased enforcement efforts by Lebanon’s security agencies.
The APU, affiliated with the Middle East Center for Sustainable Hunting (MESHC) and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), implements the anti–illegal hunting project with the support of the Foundation Hans Wilsdorf, in cooperation with BirdLife International, and in partnership with CABS, and in coordination with the Internal Security Forces, the Information and Investigations Branch, and Army Intelligence.
