The largest wildlife poisoning case in Spain
Species affected: : 108 black kites (Milvus migrans), 4 red kites (Milvus milvus), 1 Egyptian
vulture (Neophron percnopterus), 1 Western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), 1 common
buzzard (Buteo buteo) and 2 griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus).
Conservation status: The red kite and the Egyptian vulture are considered Endangered in Spain and fully protected by law. The Western marsh harrier is considered Vulnerable in the region.
Brief description of the crime (400-500 characters):
Between April and July 2012, 138 birds of prey were found dead in 4 hunting areas in the region of Navarre, the largest case of wildlife poisoning ever known in Spain. The presidents of the two local hunting societies that managed the areas, alongside with a gamekeeper, were found guilty of carefully planning the massive use of poisoned baits, with the goal of killing predators.
It is estimated that 200,000 animals were poisoned in Spain from 1997 to 2017, according to a report by WWF-Spain and SEO-BirdLife – a huge threat for the birds of prey of the country.
Who was involved in detection/investigation/prosecution:
- The environmental guards of Navarre and the regional police made the investigation, and the evidence gathering included phone tapping, which was key to solving the case.
- The Regional Community of Navarre appeared as a private prosecutor, an unusual circumstance in this kind of procedure that was also of vital importance in obtaining the sentence.
- Environmental NGOs (WWF Spain, SEO/BirdLife and Ecologistas en Acción) were involved as well as private prosecutors.
Sentence / fine imposed to perpetrators:
In May 2019, the court in the first instance (Pamplona Criminal Court number 2) sentenced the 3 accused to 2 years and 8 months in prison, a compensation to the regional Goverment in the sum of 67,529.65 euros (57,576.97 euros for the poisoned birds; 3,961.68 euros for the costs of the investigation; and 6,000 euros to restore the ecological balance), and to 5 years and 4 months of special disqualification from “the operational management of hunting areas, from the profession of gamekeeper and from exercising the right to hunt”. It was the largest penalty ever imposed in Spain for wildlife poisoning – as the prison sentence was longer than 2 years, the accused would need to go into prison according to Spanish law.
Nevertheless, the accused made an appeal and, in December 2019, the Provincial Court of Navarre commuted the prison sentences and imposed a 7,200€ fine instead. The compensation to the regional Government, as well as the special disqualification from the hunting activity, were upheld.