Ten endangered flamingos rescued from Tunisian smugglers
Ten endangered flamingos have been rescued after smugglers were caught attempting to traffic them out of Tunisia, reports the Tunisian customs body.
According to BBC News on February 10th,The border force posted photos of the birds crammed into cramped crates as their wings, legs and torsos were bound up.
The flamingos were discovered close to the Algerian border on February 9th, after they were “loaded onto a lorry bearing a Tunisian registration plate”, said officials.
Officials have assured that the flamingos have now safely been returned to their natural habitat, “as part of efforts to preserve the species”.
It has not been made clear what legal action will be taken against the alleged smugglers, smuggling or hunting flamingos is illegal in Tunisia as they are protected by Tunisian law.
Other potential threats to flamingos include pollution and rising temperatures caused by climate change.
Despite this, data gathered over the past decade has shown some population increases.
Recent estimates suggest there are at least half a million flamingos, (Phoenicopterus roseus) left in the wild.
Flamingos are migratory birds, making North Africa just one stop on their journey, they can also spotted in Europe, West Africa and Asia, depending on the time of year.
The World Wildlife Fund reports that exotic animal trafficking is proliferating across the web, as animals are taken from their habitats and sold illegally as pets.
BBCNews, Maghrebi, World Wildlife Fund
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