European Hunters Devastate Egypt's Migratory Birds

Every year, between September and March as the sun rises over Egypt's vast landscapes, an unseen battle begins. Millions of migratory birds traverse continents and embark on perilous journeys. But for some, these journeys lead to a dark fate.

Evidence was everywhere. In Malta, freezers full of bird skins and carcasses were confiscated in raids, many directly linked to the Egyptian hunt. The scenes were grotesque: a clash of cultures, politics, and conservation.

From Aswan (South Egypt), our investigation took us deeper into Egypt’s rural heartlands, tracing a shadowy trail to Faiyum (100 kilometres, southwest of Cairo) and beyond.  We uncovered the digital footprints of Maltese hunters flaunting their prized trophies. At the core of this grim enterprise lay taxidermy: rare birds, hunted and smuggled, are meticulously stuffed and mounted to serve as coveted status symbols adorning Maltese living rooms.

This investigation spanned continents and exposed the cracks in international conservation efforts. The environmental stakes are high in Egypt, whose skies are populated by nearly 500 migratory and resident bird species. As we delved deeper, the scale of the destruction became undeniable.

Millions of euros flowed from EU conservation funds to protect these species, only for them to be gunned down by Europeans in Egypt. This is the story of a network that thrives on the fringes of legality, where the flight of birds is shadowed by the human desire for conquest and possession.

With exclusive accounts from conservationists, hunting trip organisers, and undercover meetings alongside public records of raids and arrests, this investigation highlights the urgent need for international cooperation to uphold global conservation.

Photo: A smuggled Yellow-billed stork by Maltese hunters (c) Hashim Morsi