Eleni Karatzia

Serbia’s crackdown on the illegal pesticide trade yields immediate results

In a major breakthrough, Serbian authorities have strengthened efforts to tackle the illegal pesticide trade, carrying out a series of targeted operations that have led to multiple arrests and the seizure of thousands of hazardous chemical packages. This decisive action is a long-overdue yet commendable step by law enforcement to fight a persistent problem that […]

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dead young white-tailed eagle in Sremska Rača, photo by Goran Jević

New wave of poisoning: Birds of prey in Serbia are fighting for their survival

A year after one of Europe’s most devastating bird poisoning incidents in Nakovo, near Kikinda—where over 1,000 birds perished under unexplained circumstances—Serbia is once again facing a tragic wave of wildlife poisonings. This alarming trend threatens not only rare and endangered species but also the delicate ecological balance they help maintain. Widespread deaths across Serbia

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Poisoned Golden Eagle in Greece © Lavrentis Sidiropoulos

Poison is still widespread in Europe – and has a huge biodiversity impact

A comprehensive study on Raptor Poisoning in Europe provides a continental-wide overview of the impacts of illegal poisoning of raptors, including vultures, in the last 20 years.  The study compiled and analysed raptor poisoning incidents across 22 European countries over two decades (1996-2016). The compilation documented 3,196 poisoning events, impacting 4,437 raptors spanning 37 species.  

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19,000 packages of banned herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides seized from suspects. © MUP

Major arrest in Serbia exposes black market pesticide trade threatening Balkan wildlife

In a significant crackdown on the illegal pesticide trade, authorities have arrested two individuals in Bečej, Serbia, for smuggling banned agricultural chemicals. This operation sheds light on the pervasive black market for such substances in Serbia and the broader Balkans, highlighting severe repercussions for wildlife, the environment, and public health. A closer look at the

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Tackling wildlife poisoning in the Balkans: 2024 milestones of the BalkanDetox LIFE project

The BalkanDetox LIFE project continues to lead the charge against illegal wildlife poisoning—a destructive practice that harms wildlife, jeopardizes human health, and disrupts ecosystems across the Balkans. In its fourth year of operation, this ambitious five-year initiative, spanning across seven countries, achieved impressive milestones in 2024, strengthening efforts to protect biodiversity, raise awareness, and enhance

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Albania establishes new environmental crime police unit 

In a big step forward for protecting wildlife and the environment, Albania has established a dedicated police unit to tackle environmental crimes and illegal wildlife trafficking. This move responds to growing EU legislative requirements and a sharp rise in wildlife crime reports, marking a turning point in the country’s conservation efforts.  Addressing the growing problem

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What to do when encountering suspected poisoning incidents in the Balkans 

Wildlife poisoning is a serious threat in the Balkans, with devastating effects on biodiversity, domestic animals, and even human health. To address this pressing issue, we need collaboration from all stakeholders, and that involves the public. The BalkanDetox LIFE project has released public awareness videos in seven Balkan languages to inform about the dangers of poisoning and empower

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Recent training courses in Serbia share best practices in wildlife crime investigation

Wildlife crime often goes unpunished, so when authorities take action and build their capacity to fight it, it’s a significant breakthrough. Recently, Serbia took a major step in this direction with two national training courses that brought together the police, environmental inspection, and other key stakeholders to tackle wildlife poisoning. This achievement benefits Serbia’s vulnerable

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bulgaria police training

Bulgaria takes step forward in combating wildlife crime with national police training course

Bulgaria has demonstrated a strong commitment to conservation by organising a national field training course for the police on wildlife crime, focusing on “Poisoning of protected species of wild animals, evidence collection, and investigation.”  The Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water invited the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF) to coordinate this training, inspired by the Wildlife Crime Academy. Initially developed

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Standard Operational Protocol for wildlife poisoning cases officially adopted in North Macedonia

On 5 August 2024, the State Environmental Inspectorate in North Macedonia officially adopted the Standard Operational Protocol (SOP) for handling wildlife poisoning cases. This protocol was developed as part of the BalkanDetox LIFE initiative and proposed during a meeting of the National Anti-Poisoning Working Group. During this meeting, members stressed the need for clearly defined

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