A large haul of smuggled birds was seized in southern Iran

The environmental police in the southern Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan have seized 380 birds while inspecting a dhow in the Sea of Oman. What appears below is the translation of a report posted by the website of Iran Environment and Wildlife Watch on the story on November 24:

Maritime police in cooperation with environmental police in Chabahar [the provincial capital of Sistan and Baluchestan] intercepted an Iranian dhow in the Sea of Oman. The search of the vessel turned up 140 falcons and 240 houbara bustards. Eight Iranian and Pakistani nationals were taken into custody.

“The birds had been smuggled out of Pakistan and were en route to Arab countries in the Persian Gulf. The dhow has been confiscated and its crew, an Iranian captain and Pakistani owners of the haul, are being interrogated,” said Director General of the Environment Protection Department of Chabahar Saeed Mahmoudi.

“Unfortunately, as a result of improper shipment, a number of the birds died, but the rest of them were handed to the provincial environment department and are now in the care of experts and environmental police,” he added.

“An adequate amount of food has been supplied and the birds are being cared for and fed by experts. The seized birds are likely to be released into the wilderness in southern Iran after they have received enough care and food,” he concluded.