RARE AND EXOTIC BIRDS STOLEN FROM PARK

17th September 2014

On Monday night, thieves stole more than 30 very rare birds from the Avifauna bird park in Alphen aan den Rijn. According to the animal park, the thieves knew what they wanted and specifically took the valuable and rare breeding pairs. 

Thieves took several toucans, mynas and some parrot species as well as diverse hornbills. These hornbills seemed especially important to the robbers, as they took a total of 16 of the tropical bird species.

Among these hornbills, there were some very rare endangered species such as the white-crowned hornbill, Tickell’s brown hornbill and the very close to extinction Visayan tarictic hornbill. Avifauna writes on their website that these last birds need specialized care, and are only found in a select number of zoos in the world.

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Thefts of budgies, canaries and finches increase

March 2014: The UK’s National Wildlife Crime Unit have issued a warning to bird breeders that thieves are targeting budgerigars, canaries and finches

The National Theft Register reports that during the last two years there has been an ever developing series of small bird thefts. In recent months the pattern continues with over 40 separate burglaries comprising of hundreds of birds valued at many thousands of pounds.

The perpetrators are mainly targeting areas in the Midlands and the South and research potential premises thoroughly and come equipped to transport the birds away.

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