Balgarianovinite.com A total of 47 exotic birds with falsified veterinary certificates for origin and health status were intercepted at the Danube Bridge near Ruse. The smuggling attempt was prevented by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA), following a signal from Border Police and in the presence of officials from the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW) in Ruse, BFSA said Sunday.
In a van with Targovishte (Northeast Bulgaria) registration plates and without a licence for transporting live animals, authorities found 22 birds – 11 pairs of the species Rhyticeros plicatus, eight birds of the species Chalcopsitta cardinalis (Cardinal lory), 13 decorative pigeons, and four ornamental chickens.
It was established that the animals had entered Bulgaria from Turkiye, were transferred in a village near Shumen, and were en route to several destinations in Central Europe. Investigators believe this is part of a smuggling network and that these birds are part of a larger shipment.
Their total value is estimated at several hundred thousand euros. A single Rhyticeros plicatus is priced at around EUR 10,000, while a pair can exceed EUR 25,000.
According to RIEW inspectors, the first two species are subject to a special transport regime under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The driver did not present the required registration documents and certificates.
The animals were confiscated and taken to the Nature and Animals Protection Centre in Dobrich (Northeast Bulgaria). They have been fed and are currently in stable condition. However, specialists warn that these species are highly sensitive to stress and their survival is not yet guaranteed.
The driver of the van, a Bulgarian citizen, has been issued fines, and the investigation is ongoing. 47 Exotic Birds Seized at Danube Bridge Near Ruse in Suspected Smuggling Operation 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-05-10 13:24:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law