STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF
POISON IN THE ENVIRONMENT
OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
3
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON IN THE
ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
BALKAN DETOX LIFE: STRENGTHENING NATIONAL CAPACITIES TO FIGHT WILDLIFE
POISONING AND RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE PROBLEM ACROSS SEVEN BALKAN
COUNTRIES
(LIFE19 GIE/NL/001016)
P epa ed by: Vul u e Conse a ion Founda ion
P ojec Pa ne s:
Funded by:
ALBANIAN ORNITHOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
AOS
4
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Con ibu o s
Regional Adminis a ion o P o ec ed A ea Vlo e
Cen e o In es iga ion and Wildli e Heal h, Fac-
ul y o Ve e ina y Medicine, Uni e si y o Ti ana
Minis y o Ag icul u e and Ru al De elopmen o
Albania
Fede al Adminis a ion o Inspec ion Issues o
Bosnia and He zego ina
Bulga ian Socie y o P o ec ion o Bi ds
C oa ian Ve e ina y Ins i u e
Ve e ina y Facul y Uni e si y o Zag eb
S a e’s A o ney O ice o he Republic o C oa ia
G eek An ipoison Task Fo ce (A c u os, Anima,
HOS, HSPN, Callis o, NHMC-Uni e si y o C e e
& WWF G eece)
Fo es y Se ice o A alan is
Fo es y Se ice o Nig i as
Ve e ina y O ice o Kas o ia
Fo es y Se ice o Alexand oupolis
Fo es y Se ice o Is iaias
Fo es y Se ice o Se on
Ve e ina y Se ice o Lakonias
Fo es y Se ice o Kilkis
Ve Se ice o Ka alas
Fo es y Se ice o A idaias
Ve e ina y Se ice o Ionia Nisia
Ve e ina y Se ice o Wes e n A hens
Fo es y Se ice o Samou
Ve e ina y Se ice o Wes e n Macedonia
Fo es y Se ice o Ka penisiou
Fo es y Se ice o Kassand as
Fo es y Se ice o Lido ikiou
Fo es y Se ice o Naousas
Fo es y Se ice o Goumenissas
Fo es y Se ice o Sou liou
Fo es y Se ice o Ne okopiou
Fo es y Se ice o Mouzakiou
Fo es y Se ice o Kalampakas
Fo es y Se ice o Ali e iou
Ve e ina y Se ice o Ioanninon
Fo es y Se ice o Lagkada
Fo es y Se ice o Pie ias
Fo es y Se ice o Elassonas
Ve e ina y Se ice o Le kadas
S a e En i onmen al Inspec o a e o No h Mace-
donia
S a e Hun ing Inspec o a e o No h Macedonia
Scien i ic Ve e ina y Ins i u e “No i Sad”
Ins i u e o na u e conse a ion o Voj odina
p o ince
Subjec and pu pose o he epo
This documen is p epa ed wi hin he amewo k o he BalkanDe ox LIFE p ojec (LIFE19GIE/NL/001016)
and ela es o he deli e able “S udy abou he illegal use o poison in he en i onmen o he Balkan
Peninsula”, de ined unde Ac ion A.2: P epa a ion o he cu en e iew o he p oblem o illegal wildli e
poisoning in he Balkan Peninsula. This s udy is designed o p o ide a clea and up- o-da e o e iew in o
he cu en ci cums ances ega ding he illegal use o poisonous subs ances and he de imen al e ec s his
illegal p ac ice has on ul u e popula ions and o he wildli e species in Albania, Bosnia and He zego ina,
Bulga ia, C oa ia, G eece, he Republic o No h Macedonia, and Se bia. Addi ionally, i ep esen s a
baseline o moni o ing he impac ha ac ions implemen ed wi hin his p ojec and o he simila conse a ion
ini ia i es owa ds diminishing he h ea o illegal wildli e poisoning will ha e in he egion, as well moni o ing
o he change in pe cep ion abou his p ac ice among key s akeholde g oups and socio-economic impac .
Au ho s
The Vul u e Conse a ion Founda ion, Albanian O ni hological Socie y, Associa ion BIOM, Bi d
P o ec ion and S udy Socie y o Se bia, Fund o Wild Flo a and Fauna, Hellenic O ni hological Socie y
/ Bi dLi e G eece, Macedonian Ecological Socie y, O ni ološko d uš o “Naše P ice”, P o ec ion and
P ese a ion o Na u al En i onmen in Albania.
5
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Geog aphical scope
This s udy e lec s on he illegal p ac ice o using poisonous subs ances in he en i onmen and
wildli e mo ali y induced by i in he ollowing coun ies o he Balkan Peninsula: Albania, Bosnia
and He cego ina, Bulga ia, C oa ia, G eece, he Republic o No h Macedonia and Se bia, as well as
di e en challenges ela ed o he p e en ion o wildli e poisoning ha exis in hese coun ies.
Da e o p oduc ion
Feb ua y 2022.
Recommended ci a ion o he epo
Pan o ić, U., Ande ski, J., Du o, K., Selgjekaj, L., De o ić, T., Peshe , H., Dob e , D., Fabijanić, N.,
N emi i, K., Sa a ia-Mullin, V., Side i-Manoka, N., Pe o ski, N., Vukiće ić, A. (2022): S udy abou he
illegal use o poison in he en i onmen in he Balkan Peninsula. Technical epo o Ac ion A.2 o he
BalkanDe ox LIFE p ojec (LIFE19 GIE/NL/001016). Vul u e Conse a ion Founda ion.
Abou he p ojec
The BalkanDe ox LIFE p ojec is a i e-yea endea ou wi h a €1.8 million budge , which aims o
aise awa eness and s eng hen na ional capaci ies o igh he p oblem o wildli e poisoning ac oss
Albania, Bosnia & He zego ina, Bulga ia, C oa ia, G eece, he Republic o No h Macedonia and
Se bia. I ecei ed unding om heEU’sLIFE P og amme wi h a con ibu ion o 1.004.792€ (54,82%)
o he o al p ojec budge , and i is co- inanced by heVul u e Conse a ion Founda ion, heMAVA
Founda ionandEu ona u , as well as by heWhi ley Fund o Na u eandEn i onmen al P o ec ion and
Ene gy E iciency Fund o speci ic ac ions. P ojec pa ne s a e he Vul u e Conse a ion Founda ion as
he coo dina ing bene icia y, and heAlbanian O ni hological Socie y,Associa ion BIOM,Bi d P o ec ion
and S udy Socie y o Se bia,Fund o Wild Flo a and Fauna,Hellenic O ni hological Socie y,Macedonian
Ecological Socie y,O ni ološko d uš o NAŠE P iceand heP o ec ion and P ese a ion o Na u al
En i onmen in Albaniaas associa ed bene icia ies. Fu he mo e, his p ojec is based on Spanish bes
p ac ice expe ience and coun s wi h he suppo om heJun a de Andalucíaand he Spanish Minis y
o he Ecological T ansi ion and he Demog aphic Challenge.
Lea n mo e a www.balkande oxli e.eu
Co e pho o: San iago Ruiz
6
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Table o Con en s
Ac onyms and abb e ia ions ............................................................................................................... 7
Chap e 1. In oduc ion …………………....……………………………………………………………..............………… 8
Chap e 2. App oach and me hodology …………………………....………………………………..................…… 9
Chap e 3. O e iew o he si ua ion wi h wildli e poisoning in he Balkan coun ies ................... 12
3.1 Albania ......................................................................................................................................... 14
3.2 Bosnia and He zego ina ........................................................................................................... 24
3.3 Bulga ia ....................................................................................................................................... 33
3.4 C oa ia ......................................................................................................................................... 41
3.5 G eece ......................................................................................................................................... 52
3.6 No h Macedonia ......................................................................................................................... 65
3.7 Se bia ........................................................................................................................................... 74
Chap e 4. Conclusions …………………………………………………...…………………………….........…………… 87
Chap e 5. Recommenda ions ……………………………………...……………………………..........……………… 94
Re e ences ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......……………… 101
ANNEXES …………………………………………………………………………………………….....…………………… 104
Annex I: O e iew o poisoning inciden s in Albania con i med by oxicological analysis .... 104
Annex II: O e iew o poisoning inciden s in Bulga ia con i med by oxicological analysis …… 404
Annex III: O e iew o poisoning inciden s in C oa ia con i med by oxicological analysis ……… 107
Annex IV: O e iew o poisoning inciden s in G eece con i med by oxicological analysis ………… 108
Annex V: O e iew o poisoning inciden s in No h Macedonia con i med by oxicological analysis .. 110
Annex VI: O e iew o poisoning inciden s in Se bia con i med by oxicological analysis ………… 111
Annex VII: Ques ionnai e abou eco ded wildli e poisoning and p esumable poisoning e en s …… 113
Annex VIII: Ques ionnai e o a ge audiences in local communi ies ………………….........………. 116
Annex IX: Ques ionnai e o a ge audiences wi hin ele an go e nmen al ins i u ions ……..…… 124
7
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Ac onyms and abb e ia ions
BAPP - Balkan An i-Poisoning P ojec
BAVP - Balkan Vul u e Ac ion Plan
BCTF - Bi d C ime Task Fo ce
BPPS - Bi ds o P ey P o ec ion Socie y
BSPB - Bulga ian Socie y o P o ec ion o Bi ds
CAWI - Compu e Assis ed Web In e iewing
CSO - Ci il Socie y O ganiza ion
EU - Eu opean Union
FWFF - Fund o Wild Flo a and Fauna
HOS - Hellenic O ni hological Socie y
MES - Macedonian Ecological Socie y
PAPI - Pape and Pen In e iewing
PID - Poison Inciden Da abase
SOP - S anda d Ope a ional P ocedu e
VCF - Vul u e Conse a ion Founda ion
Vul u e MsAP - Vul u e Mul i-species Ac ion Plan
8
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
INTRODUCTION
The en i onmen al e ec s o he illegal use o poi-
son in he en i onmen ha e been de as a ing
and i has now become one o he main h ea s
o biodi e si y. The use o poisonous subs ances
in he en i onmen is one o he mos common-
ly used p eda o e adica ion me hods wo ldwide.
Poison is used o kill wildli e and undesi able do-
mes ic animals conside ed o be ha m ul o ce -
ain human ac i i ies, in pa icula li es ock a m-
ing and o he ag icul u al p ac ices, as well as
game managemen o hun ing and pigeon keep-
ing. I is also no uncommonly used as a way o
se ling a ious euds and dispu es be ween peo-
ple. The illegal use o poison is conside ed one o
he mos impo an issues ega ding illegal killing
o bi ds due o he se ious conse a ion impac s
i has on sca enging species and is con i med o
be among he mos impo an di ec h ea s o he
ul u e popula ions in Eu ope (Vul u es MsAP).
The mos common use o poison o he pu pose
o elimina ing undesi able animals is placemen
o poison bai s in he en i onmen . The use o
poison bai s usually in ol es lacing a ood i em
(mos commonly a piece o mea , o an en i e
animal ca cass) wi h a oxic compound, usually
phy osani a y p oduc s like insec icides, oden-
icides, ungicides, he bicides o molluscicides,
and placing hem in he en i onmen so ha
hey a e accessible o he a ge animals, and o -
en o o he non- a ge species, which may also
be a ec ed. In en ional poisoning is he e o e a
non-selec i e and des uc i e me hod o e adica -
ing animals deemed ha m ul o human ac i i ies
and can e en pose a se ious isk o human heal h.
The illegal use o poison bai s emains he single
mos impo an h ea ha ul u es a e cu en ly
acing in he Balkans and has con ibu ed o he
egional ex inc ion o se e e deple ion o all he
species in he egion. The ul u e popula ions
o he Balkan Peninsula had been b ough o
he b ink o ex inc ion by he end o he 20 h and
beginning o he 21s cen u y mainly because o
illegal wildli e poisoning in he en i onmen (Pan-
o ić & Ande ski 2018). O he ou species ha
we e once commonly sp ead h oughou he e-
gion, he Bea ded Vul u e and Cine eous Vul u e
a e now educed o single, isola ed popula ions.
The las popula ion o Bea ded Vul u es in he
egion is ound in C e e (G eece), numbe ing
a ound 6-7 b eeding pai s and he Cine eous
Vul u es in Dadia-Le kimi-Sou li Fo es Na ion-
al Pa k, NE G eece, 28-35 pai s (Xi ouchakis
2019). The numbe o Egyp ian Vul u es has de-
clined by mo e han 50 % in he las en yea s and
con inues o decline. This species s onghold in
he egion is in Bulga ia, while i is s ill in small
numbe s p esen in No h Macedonia, G eece
and Albania, o aling o less han 50 b eeding
pai s in 2021 o he en i e Balkan Peninsula (Va-
le ski e al. 2015, LIFE16 NAT/BG/000874). The
popula ion o G i on Vul u e has also been signi -
ican ly deple ed and he species has disappea ed
om many coun ies o i s o me ange (Albania,
Bosnia & He zego ina and Mon eneg o), whils
in con inen al G eece and No he n Macedo-
nia isola ed and small popula ions a e s ill pe -
sis ing, numbe ing 29-37 and 7 b eeding pai s
espec i ely in 2021 (Xi ouchakis 2019). S ong
popula ions a e p esen in Se bia, numbe ing up
o 230-233 b eeding pai s, and up o 121 pai s in
C oa ia, while he popula ions in Bulga ia (up o
163) and C e e, wi h an es ima ed popula ion o
280-350 b eeding pai s (Xi ouchakis 2019), a e
showing signs o inc ease in he las yea s.
This p ac ice is illegal in Eu ope, including he Bal-
kans, bu i is s ill in use by local people as a quick
and inexpensi e me hod o esol ing con lic s
wi h p eda o s and o he wildli e. The main d i e
o such an in ensi e use o he poison is he con-
lic be ween li es ock b eede s, hun e s, a me s
and mammalian p eda o s, mainly wol es, bu
also jackals, oxes and e al/s ay dogs (Ande ski
2013). I s widesp ead use has also been acili a -
ed by he poo en o cemen o he legisla ion, he
black ma ke o banned pes icides and he ela i e
ee a ailabili y o poisoning subs ances on he
ma ke s.
Wildli e poisoning is a se ious conse a ion issue,
which needs o be in es iga ed in de ail and ac-
ions need o be ca e ully planned and implemen -
ed o achie e desi able esul s. This s udy p o-
9
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
ides an o e iew o he si ua ion wi h he illegal
use o poison in he en i onmen and i s e ec s on
wildli e in each o he a ge Balkan coun ies. I s
objec i e is o collec and analyze he da a om
he Balkan egion and iden i y egional aspec s
o he poisoning p oblem, bu also ecognize he
pa icula i ies in each coun y and p opose gene -
al ac ions. I di ec ly builds on he “Balkan ul u e
poison s udy” (Re iew o he p oblem o poison
use and ul u e poisoning in he Balkan Peninsu-
la), p oduced by he Vul u e Conse a ion Foun-
da ion (VCF) in 2018.
This s udy undamen ally consis s o wo com-
ponen s. The i s componen en ails compila ion
and analysis o da a abou poisoning and p e-
sumable poisoning e en s om he coun ies o
he Balkan Peninsula da ing om he yea 2000
onwa ds and analysis o he scope, se e i y, oo
causes behind i and subs ances mos used in
he egion. The s udy will highligh he collec ed
da a ele an o ul u e poisoning inciden s, as
ul u es, being mos ly obliga o y sca enge s,
con inue o be ic ims o poison and poison bai s
in ended o o he animals in he en i onmen ,
p ima ily mammalian p eda o s, and a e a g oup
o species mos deeply a ec ed by his p ac ice.
Addi ionally, his s udy will e lec in mo e de ail on
he inciden s in ol ing mo ali y o o he wildli e
species, especially o hose wi h an un a o able
conse a ion s a us. Inc easing and imp o ing
a ailable in o ma ion on he scope o his illegal
p ac ice in he Balkans is essen ial o be e un-
de s anding o i s d i e s, con eying he message
o he public and o he a ge audiences ha i is a
public haza d and ha i has damaging e ec s o
nume ous wildli e, especially sca enge s.
The second componen o his ac ion ep esen s
he conduc ion o a baseline e alua ion o he
pe cep ion and knowledge among ele an s ake-
holde s abou his illegal p ac ice, hei pe sonal
expe ience (numbe o cases in es iga ed, num-
be o cases p ocessed and b ough o ial, num-
be o sen enced cases) in poisoning inciden s
in each o hei espec i e coun ies, as well as a
baseline o moni o ing o he socio-economic im-
pac o he p ojec .
APPROACH AND
METHODOLOGY
In o ma ion ep esen ed in his s udy abou poi-
soning and p esumable poisoning e en s ha
ha e occu ed in he Balkan egion du ing he
s udy pe iod was collec ed om ele an go e n-
men al ins i u ions o en i onmen al c ime, as well
as in e nal da abases o he bene icia ies o he
BalkanDe ox LIFE p ojec , who ha e been sys em-
a ically eco ding all such inciden s o many yea s.
Fo his pu pose, a ques ionnai e was p epa ed
(Annex VII), eques ing in o ma ion ega ding:
his o ical da a abou poisoning inciden s, numbe
o poisoning inciden s eco ded du ing he las 20
yea s ( hei loca ion, species a ec ed, main d i -
e behind hem and subs ances used), numbe
o p esumable poisoning inciden s whe e o icial
nec opsies been conduc ed on wild animals which
we e suspec ed o ha e died om poisoning o in-
ges ing poison bai s, numbe o p esumable poi-
soning inciden s whe e oxicological analysis been
conduc ed, ei he on dead animals o on poison
bai s, numbe o poisoning inciden s ha ha e o -
icially been p osecu ed by he public p osecu o ’s
o ice and ha e eached cou ials, and numbe
o poisoning inciden s o which cou ulings ha e
been deli e ed.
The ques ionnai es abou wildli e poisoning inci-
den s we e dis ibu ed by he BalkanDe ox LIFE
p ojec bene icia ies among ele an go e nmen-
al ins i u ions, p ima ily o en o cemen agencies,
en i onmen al inspec o a es, and public p osecu-
o s by means o o mal eques s o in o ma ion,
as his da a ep esen s in o ma ion o public impo -
ance and he e o e mus be made a ailable. Ad-
di ionally, p ojec bene icia ies ha e endea o ed
o ob ain all publicly a ailable da a (o icial eco ds
and epo s om ele an na ional ins i u ions,
published pape s and p ojec epo s, in e nal da-
abases o CSOs) ele an o wildli e poisoning in-
ciden s. The analysis o he collec ed da a enables
us o de ine he mos signi ican gaps in he chain
o cus ody and en o cemen mechanisms in each
Balkan coun y. This will ep esen a baseline o
16
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Acco ding o he a ailable da a, mos common
ic ims o wildli e poisoning in Albania a e mam-
malian p eda o s such as Red Fox (7 indi iduals
in 7 sepa a e inciden s) and Eu asian Wol (9 in-
di iduals in a leas 2 sepa a e inciden s). O he
ic ims include Eu asian B own bea (4 indi iduals
du ing 2019), Golden Jackal (1 indi idual in one
poisoning inciden ), Beech Ma en (1 indi idual in
one poisoning inciden ), Rough-legged Buzza d
(1 indi idual in one poisoning inciden ), Eu asian
Magpie (3 indi iduals in one poisoning inciden ),
House Spa ow (2 indi iduals in one poisoning
inciden ). Addi ionally, 2 Eu asian Spa owhawks
we e ound p esumably poisoned due o con lic s
wi h pigeon ancie s and he damages hey migh
in lic upon acing pigeons. This speci ic d i e o il-
legal poisoning is eco ded o he i s ime in Alba-
nia, al hough i has been well documen ed in o he
coun ies o he egion, no ably Se bia and C oa-
ia. I is impo an o men ion ha one p esumably
mass poisoning inciden da ing om 2013 was
ob ained om he ele an au ho i ies which indi-
ca es ha 114 indi iduals om a leas 3 di e en
bi d species p obably died om poisoning.
The e a e indica ions om hun e s ha con lic s
be ween wild p eda o s (mainly wol es and jack-
als) and li es ock b eede s a e becoming mo e
equen since he na ional hun ing ban has been
en o ced in 2014. And, since he e a e no al e na-
i e o icial me hods o popula ion managemen
en o ced by ele an go e nmen al ins i u ions, i
is belie ed ha he popula ions o p eda o s, as
well as damages hey in lic upon li es ock, a e in-
c easing, which is why local li es ock b eede s o -
en eso o poisoning as an easy and a o dable
me hod. In addi ion o his, he e a e no compen-
sa o y measu es in place o damages in lic ed by
wildli e, which u he deepens he con lic . How-
e e , addi ional da a is needed o suppo hese
indica ions and e o s should be made o u he
in es iga e hem, as hey po en ially ep esen he
mos signi ican h ea ha ul u es migh ace in
Albania.
Signi ican p og ess has been made in Albania
in he s uggle agains illegal wildli e poisoning,
chie ly owa ds amending he na ional legisla ion
ele an o wildli e c ime, as well as in es iga ing
he scope o illegal wildli e poisoning in he coun-
y. In syne gy wi h he BAPP p ojec suppo ed
by VCF and MAVA Founda ion, “Illegal Killing
and Taking o Bi ds” suppo ed byEu oNa u and
MAVA Founda ion and he “Egyp ian Vul u e New
Li e p ojec ” (LIFE16 NAT/BG/000874) suppo -
ed by Bulga ian Socie y o P o ec ion o Bi ds
(BSPB) and he EU, he Albanian O ni hological
Socie y (AOS) lobbied in 2018 o he amend-
men o he Law No. 10 006, da ed 23.10.2008
“On he P o ec ion o Wild Fauna”. In July 2019,
he Albanian Pa liamen adop ed hese amend-
men s, explici ly s a ing ha poisoning and pa ic-
ula ly he use o poison bai s is by law a p ohibi ed
ac ion,and ha he use o ag icul u al chemicals,
e e ina y d ugs and se ices is a po en ial h ea
o wild auna in case hey a e used con a y o he
cu en legisla ion co e ing ag icul u al chemi-
cals, e e ina y d ugs and se ices. Fu he mo e,
hese amendmen s we e inco po a ed also in o
he penal code. These amendmen s o he na ion-
al legisla ion ep esen a p e- equisi e o any u -
he conse a ion wo k ela ed o comba ing wild-
li e poisoning. Following his, na u e conse a ion
CSOs and he Minis y o Tou ism and En i on-
men ha e cu en ly de eloped an An i-Poison-
ing Road Map which will o ien a e an i-poisoning
policies in Albania. The adap a ion o he legal
na ional amewo k and he enhancemen o he
s a egical amewo k is o su e a s eppings one
in he igh di ec ion, bu s ill signi ican e o s
need o be made owa ds de ec ion o poisoning
inciden s, awa eness aising o bo h gene al pub-
lic and ele an go e nmen al ins i u ions, om
decision make s o en o cemen bodies, and also
owa ds capaci y building. T aining ele an o de-
ec ion, epo ing, sampling, and u he p ocess-
ing o poisoning cases needs o be p o ided o
police o ice s, en i onmen al and e e ina y in-
spec o s and ope a ional p o ocols de eloped so
ha hey ha e he necessa y ools o implemen
he newly amended legisla ion. Also, de ailed
aining needs o be p o ided owa ds conduc ion
o oxicological analysis, which is o c ucial signi -
icance o u he legal p oceedings o poisoning
inciden s.
17
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Single case o poisoning
2-5 cases o poisoning
5-10 cases o poisoning
10-25 cases o poisoning
25-50 cases o poisoning
50+ cases o poisoning
Map 2. Dis ibu ion o poisoning e en s by egions in Albania du ing 2000-2020.
18
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Legal amewo k
Exis ing na ional legisla ion ele an o wildli e
poisoning in Albania:
• Law No. 46/2019, da ed 08.07.2019
“On some changes and addi ions o
law no. 10 006, da ed 23.10.2008 “On
he p o ec ion o wild auna”: Acco d-
ing o A icle 10: “On he p o ec ion o
wild auna om subs ances, haza dous
was e, and se ices” he use and ad-
minis a ion o haza dous subs ances
and was e, ag icul u al and e e ina y
chemicals, and se ices is done in ac-
co dance wi h he p o isions o he legal
amewo k in o ce, ela ing o chemical
subs ances and p epa a ions, haza d-
ous was e managemen , plan p o ec-
ion se ice, as well as aking in o ac-
coun speci ic issues ela ed o he p e-
en ion o poisoning o mig a o y bi ds,
in acco dance wi h he obliga ions de-
ined in he ag eemen s o which ou
coun y is a pa y.
Acco ding o A icle 19: “P ohibi ed Ac-
ions” o he same law, he use o poison
bai s o he ex e mina ion o wild auna
is punished wi h a ine in he amoun o
100 000 ALL o 200 000 ALL.
• Penal Code: Acco ding o A icle 202:
“Ha ming o p o ec ed species o lo a
and auna” o he Penal Code, killing,
des uc ion, possession, acquisi ion o
ade o specimens o p o ec ed spe-
cies o wild lo a and auna o hei pa s
o by-p oduc s, in b each o he equi e-
men s o speci ic na ional legisla ion
o ele an pe mi , unless such a case
has occu ed o e a negligible amoun
o hese specimens om he biological
poin o iew o he g oup belonging o
he p o ec ed species, and has no signi -
ican impac on he conse a ion s a us
o he species, cons i u es c iminal con-
a en ion and is punishable by a ine o
imp isonmen o wo o se en yea s.
Rele an in e na ional ea ies and con en-
ions ha Albania is pa ies o:
Con en ion on he Conse a ion o Eu o-
pean Wildli e and Na u al Habi a s (Be n,
1979): Ra i ied by Albania in 1999, i p ohibi s
he use o any non-selec i e means o cap u e
o killing as well as o means ha may induce lo-
cal ex inc ion o hea ily dis u b he popula ions
o a species, namely means lis ed in Annex IV”,
while in Annex IV o he same Law, which is en i-
led “P ohibi ed means and me hods o hun ing
and o he o ms o exploi a ion”, “Poisons and
poison o anquilizing bai s” a e included.
Pe cep ion o he illegal p ac ice o
wildli e poisoning in local commu-
ni ies in Albania
The esea ch included 100 esponden s o he
su ey ques ionnai es. The majo i y o li e-
s ock/ ca le and ag icul u al p oduc ion a m-
e s, ange s, e e ina ians and policemen in
ho spo a eas in Albania a e no in o med abou
he p esence and b eeding o key species o
ul u es in hei coun y. 56% o esponden s
om he local communi ies belie e ha Albania
can be a b eeding g ound o he Egyp ian Vul-
u e, he G i on and Cine eous Vul u e ollow
(42% and 31%, espec i ely); when i comes o
o he species o ul u es ha we e men ioned,
he numbe o esponden s who s a e ha hey
a e amilia wi h hei p esence is conside ably
lowe .
Ta ge g oups in local communi ies in Alba-
nia mos ly ha e limi ed in o ma ion on he key
h ea s o he ul u e popula ions. While wild-
li e poisoning is iden i ied as he bigges h ea
by less han 15% o esponden s, he majo -
i y (35%) ind easons o he endange men
o ul u e species in some o he causes and
17% o esponden s claim ha hey a e no in-
o med. Fa me s, ange s, e e ina ians, and
policemen in ou a ge communi ies in Albania
also assess hei knowledge o he issue o wild-
19
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
li e poisoning as below a e age (39%). The e-
sponden s’ knowledge ela ed o he causes o
ul u e poisoning is limi ed and unclea , as he
majo i y iden i y poison bai s in ended o o he
animals (29%) and consump ion o poisoned
animals (18%) as he key causes o ul u e
poisoning, which implies acciden al poisoning,
a he same ime close o 50% o esponden s
belie e ha wildli e poisoning mos ly occu s
in en ionally, wi h illegal poisons om he black
ma ke (36%) o by abuse o legal poisoning
subs ances such as pes icides, insec icides,
e c. (12%).
Responsibili y o ul u e poisoning lies p ima -
ily wi h li es ock b eede s, a me s and people
who in en ionally poison animals ou o agg es-
si e and des uc i e impulses; hun e s ollow.
The key mo i a ions o poisoning animals a e
ela ed o p o ec ion om pes s, p o ec ion o
pas u es and li es ock om wild animals, bu
also p o ec ion om s ay dogs and ca s and
con lic s among people abou land use. The
majo i y o he esponden s who wi nessed/
hea d o poisoning cases in he pas 10 yea s
belie e ha he inciden s we e he esul o de-
libe a e poisoning o any ype o animal wi hin
he se lemen s and inhabi ed a eas implying
he need o be e p o ec ion o p ope y, ca le,
and pe s wi hin human se lemen s. Al hough a
smalle numbe o poisonings we e a ibu ed
o in en ionally poisoned wild animals ou side
o se lemen s because “ hey bo he ed some-
one”, his is s ill an issue o add ess in he com-
munica ion wi h esiden s o local communi ies
in Albania.
0%
10%
20% 15% 16%
32%
27%
21%
20% 34%
48%
47%
15%
27% 15%
14%
46%
8% 13%
16%
7%
20%
7%
4%
7%
38%
26%
16% 15%
10% 6%
Li es ock
b eede s
Indi iduals who
delibe a ely
poison animals
simply because
hey like killing
hings
Fa me s Hun e s Pigeon
ancie s/
b eede s
Beekepe s
60%
20%
80%
40%
100%
Figu e 2. Pe cei ed esponsible g oups o wildli e poisoning in Albania
I don’ know Ne e Ra ely Occasionally o en
20
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
On he o he hand, esponsibili y o epo ing poi-
soning inciden s o he au ho i ies is a ibu ed o
hun e s and e e ina ians, as well as he gene al
popula ion. S ill, mo e han 70% o a ge g oups
belie e ha people who epo someone o poi-
soning wild animals isk al e ca ions and con lic s
in hei communi y, which is one o he impo an
ba ie s o p e en ing and sanc ioning hese inci-
den s (40% o esponden s a e conce ned abou
he possible isks and claim eadiness o epo he
inciden s only i hey pe sonally wouldn’ ha e neg-
a i e consequences, while 1 in 5 s a ed ha hey
would no epo he poisoning). Apa om com-
munica ing he impo ance o he coope a ion wi h
he au ho i ies in de ec ion and p e en ion o hese
cases, esea ch esul s show he need o commu-
nica ing which a e he p ope ins i u ions o epo
he poisoning o, especially as he au ho i ies need
his ype o coope a ion o de ec he emo e loca-
ions’ poisoning cases, ha a e no easy o de ec .
Resea ch esul s also show he impo ance o a
public discussion abou pe sonal s sha ed e-
sponsibili y (“ he e a e enough o he people wo y-
ing abou ha ”), and he impo ance o dealing wi h
wildli e poisoning beyond he immedia e e ec s
ha i has on indi iduals.
When i comes o he measu es o p e en ion
and comba ing wildli e poisoning, 80%-90% o
esponden s pe cei e ha ha he s a e/go e n-
men should inancially compensa e he damage
o li es ock b eede s and a me s caused by wild
animals, and ha addi ional esou ces should be
in es ed in in o ming he gene al popula ion abou
he p oblem o wildli e poisoning. O he ele an
measu es include add essing pas u e owne ship
issues, ins alling elec ic ences, con olling he ex-
po and impo o legal oxic subs ances, c ea ing
mo e eeding g ounds o ul u es, bu also s ic e
imposing o ines o animal poisoning.
Wildli e poisoning in es iga ions a e also iden i-
ied as impo an police wo k by close o wo hi ds
o he esponden s. 16% o he a ge g oup on
he o he hand conside s hese in es iga ions as
mos ly o comple ely unimpo an .
Figu e 3. Pe cei ed mo i es behind wildli e poisoning in Albania
I don’ knowNe e Ra ely Occasionally o en
P o ec ion om pes s ( a s, insec s e a .)
P o ec ion om s ay dogs and ca s
P o ec ion o pigeons om bi ds o p ey
P o ec ion o hun ing ac i i ies
P o ec ion o apia ies om bea s
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
P o ec ion o ag icul u al ields om wild animals
P o ec ion o pas u es and li es ock om wild animals
Human-human con lic s o e land use
P o ec ion o ag icul u al ields om bi ds o p ey
41% 21% 8% 8%
51%
48% 13% 8% 12% 19%
16%14%6%18%46%
39% 16% 19% 15% 11%
20%29%12%16%23%
18% 15% 18% 29% 20%
9%50%7%7%27%
20% 4% 13% 56% 10%
11% 11% 10% 17%
22%
21
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
A p omising inding o he esea ch shows ha
mos o he esiden s in local communi ies in
Albania ecognize he impo ance o he ul-
u e popula ion o bo h humans and he en i-
onmen (a ound 70%). Also, abou 70% o he
a ge g oups esiden s ealize ha he Ea h
has limi ed space and esou ces, ha i is chal-
lenging o main ain he na u al balance, and
ha plan s and animals ha e he same igh s as
humans.
Howe e , he esul s o he esea ch also imply
he need o u he communica ion o he dan-
ge s o wildli e poisoning, as a ound one hi d
o he esponden s conside con olled ins i u-
ionally conduc ed poisoning o wild animals as
a p ope means o con ol pes s, and also ha
poisoning o ul u es is jus i ied in ce ain si ua-
ions. The mos pola izing a i ude is ela ed o
he dominance o man o e na u e – while 4 ou
o 10 esponden s belie e ha people a e he
ones who ha e p imacy, a simila numbe dis-
ag ees wi h he idea o human ule o e na u e.
O dina y ci izens in gene al a e iden i ied as
he a ge g oup o he awa eness campaign
abou he h ea s o wildli e poisoning; li es ock
b eede s, a me s, hun e s and game wa dens,
ollow.
Pe cep ion o he illegal p ac ice
o wildli e poisoning wi hin ele an
go e nmen al au ho i ies in Albania
Online In e iews o he a ge ed g oups o go -
e nmen se ices and ins i u ions o icials, law
en o cemen o icials and e e ina y se ice
employees in Albania we e ca ied ou . The
sample included 22 esponden s in o al ou o
49 employees in a ge ed ins i u ions.
O icials employed in ele an ins i u ions in Al-
bania a e well in o med ha he Egyp ian Vul-
u e, he only ul u e species b eeding in Alba-
nia is p esen on he e i o y o hei coun y.
Howe e , he e is a ce ain lack o knowledge
when i comes o he conse a ion s a us o
o he species o ul u es, as less han hal o
he esponden s hink ha he G i on Vul u e
s ill b eeds in Albania and a small numbe o e-
sponden s conside ha Cine eous Vul u e and
Tu key Vul u e a e also p esen in Albania.
Wildli e poisoning is pe cei ed as he key h ea
o he ul u e popula ions in Albania (by mo e
han hal o he o icials employed in ele an in-
s i u ions). Wildli e poisoning is conside ed o be
bo h acciden al and in en ional, by using illegal
poisons om he black ma ke o legal poisoning
subs ances such as pes icides o insec icides. On
he o he hand, poisoning o he ul u es is mos -
ly pe cei ed as unin en ional ei he om poison
bai s in ended o o he animals o om second-
a y poisoning by consuming poisoned animals.
The key a ge g oups esponsible o wildli e
poisoning a e iden i ied as li es ock b eede s
and a me s. These g oups eso o wildli e poi-
soning o p o ec he pas u es, ag icul u al land
and li es ock om wild animals and as p o ec-
ion om pes s.
Mo e han hal o he go e nmen employees be-
lie e ha Gji okas ë is he egion o Albania whe e
wild animals a e mos equen ly poisoned, while
conside able numbe o o icials (a ound one
hi d) claim o be unin o med abou he egion(s)
whe e wild animals a e mos o en poisoned.
The key agg a a ing ci cums ances and obs a-
cles o p e en ion and sanc ioning o wildli e
poisoning a e inadequa e law en o cemen (al-
hough laws and egula ions hemsel es a e no
assessed as unsa is ac o y), low penal ies o
wildli e poisoning and inadequa e and unclea
p o ocols o police ac ion and limi ed police ca-
paci ies.
In e ms o legisla ions and legal p ocessing o
poisoning inciden s, o icials addi ionally poin o
he a e imposing o ines (especially unde he
Hun ing Ac ), and o he lack o public p osecu-
o s’ educa ion o managing inciden s ela ed o
he poisoning o wild animals. Rega ding sanc-
ions o a ious unlaw ul ac ions de imen al o
animals and he en i onmen , he majo i y o o -
icials ag ee ha all o ms o mass and non-dis-
c imina i e killing o animals ( apping, poisoning,
explosi es, e c.) should be se e ely punished
22
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
and ha ines o e e y ype o poaching o illegal
shoo ing should be inc eased. They also ecog-
nize he necessi y o ea ing he possession o
poison bai s as a sepa a e o ense, ega dless o
whe he i has been p o en ha an animal was
killed and belie e ha he ange s should ha e
he au ho i y o a es pe pe a o s, i hey a e
caugh in he ac . On he o he hand, he e is no
unanimous opinion whe he he ines o animal
poisoning should only be inancial, o hey should
en isage imp isonmen .
In gene al, he e is e y li le knowledge abou he
exis ence o Na ional ac ion plan o comba ing
wildli e poisoning, a p o ocol de ining p ocedu es
and ju isdic ions o in es iga ing wildli e poison-
ing and a da abase o poisoning inciden s o
bi ds amongs o icials om ele an ins i u ions.
They also poin ou he inadequa e coope a ion
be ween go e nmen al ins i u ions and ci il soci-
e y o ganiza ions ega ding da a collec ion abou
poisoning e en s, which is in line wi h he pe cep-
ion ha he lack o coo dina ion among ele an
ins i u ions and o ganiza ions is a bigge p oblem
han a lack o esou ces.
Rega ding he ole o he Police in in es iga ing
wildli e poisoning inciden s, esponden s ecog-
nize he complexi y o he in es iga ions, assess-
ing a he same ime he capaci ies o he police
as inadequa e, bo h in e ms o equipmen and in
e ms o educa ion and aining o police o ces.
The majo i y o go e nmen al employees su eyed
iden i y he necessi y o in oduc ion o mo e peo-
ple in he ield o imely de ec ion o poisoning in-
ciden s, in oduc ion o specialized police uni s o
en i onmen al c ime, including wildli e poisoning,
and in oduc ion o specialized canine uni s o
de ec ing poisonous subs ances used o wildli e
poisoning. Mode n echnologies and me hods, as
well as he coope a ion wi h ep esen a i es o ci il
socie y in he in es iga ion p ocess a e also iden i-
ied as necessa y. In addi ion, abou wo- hi ds o
esponden s belie e ha addi ional e o is need-
ed o change he a i ude o he police owa ds a
mo e se ious unde s anding o he need o in es-
iga ing wildli e poisoning inciden s.
An addi ional obs acle in he wo k o he Police is
he lack o epo ing o poisoning inciden s o he
police o ces, which should be he esponsibili-
y o e e ina ians and hun e s in he i s place,
bu also gene al popula ion (e e y pe son). S ill,
close o wo hi ds o esponden s pe cei e ha
epo ing o such inciden s can pose ce ain isks
in he espec i e local communi ies o hose who
in o m on he poisoning. An impo an ba ie is
also belie ed o be lack o in o ma ion who o e-
po animal poisoning inciden s o.
Speaking o measu es o p e en ing wildli e poi-
soning, almos all go e nmen al employees be-
lie e ha u he aising o awa eness among ci -
izens in gene al and key s akeholde s (li es ock
b eede s, a me s, hun e s, ins i u ions), impos-
ing a s ic e con ol o he sales o legal poison-
ing subs ances and p o iding compensa ion o
li es ock b eede s and a me s o he damages
caused by wild animals a e he key p e en i e
measu es ha can help educe wildli e poisoning.
Addi ional supplemen a y eeding si es o ul-
u es and be e p o ec ion o wild ungula e popu-
la ions a e he measu es which a e also pe cei ed
as impo an and bene icial.
Resea ch esul s indica e a de eloped en i on-
men al consciousness among o icials in Albania.
They unde s and ha plan s and animals ha e an
equal igh o exis as humans and ha he na u-
al balance is e y delica e and easily dis u bed.
Also, op imism o u u e ac ions is p esen in be-
lie s o he hal o he esponden s who dispu e
ha humans a e des ined o ule o e he es o
he na u e, al hough one hi d ag ee wi h he dom-
ina ion o people o e na u e.
Conclusions
Wildli e poisoning in Albania is an e iden en i-
onmen al issue. The e o s in es ed in o he
esea ch o his p ac ice since 2018 p o ide p e-
limina y insigh in o i s scope and na u e. We now
know ha people mos ly eso o poisoning o
esol e con lic s wi h wildli e, mos o en p eda-
o s such as oxes, wol es and bea s in o de o
educe he damages ha hese animals may in-
lic upon li es ock and o he ag icul u al p ac ic-
es. Fo he be e in es iga ed poisoning e en s
23
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
we can see ha poison bai s a e mos ly p epa ed
using Me homyl and O ganophospha es. A new
po en ial d i e o poison use egis e ed in Alba-
nia is he delibe a e use o poison due o con lic s
wi h pigeon ancie s and he damages hey migh
in lic upon acing pigeons. This speci ic d i e o
illegal poisoning is eco ded o he i s ime in
Albania, al hough i has been well documen ed in
o he coun ies o he egion, no ably Se bia and
C oa ia. I is impo an o men ion ha in o ma ion
abou one p esumably mass poisoning inciden
ob ained om he ele an au ho i ies indica e ha
misuse o pes icides used in ag icul u e could also
be an impo an sou ce o wildli e poisoning in he
coun y. I is necessa y o moni o and eco d all
po en ial poisoning e en s in he coun y in o de
o mo e adequa ely de e mine he ac ual scope o
his p ac ice in he whole coun y and p ecisely de-
ine he a eas whe e i mos o en occu s.
Conse a ion wo k ega ding wildli e poisoning
in Albania esul ed in c ea ing condi ions o le-
gal sanc ions agains his p ac ice. The ecen
changes in he na ional legisla ion now make i
possible o poisoning o be ea ed as an illegal
ac i i y, punishable by law, which ep esen s he
basic ounda ion o comba ing his damaging
p ac ice. Since he change in na ional legisla ion
is e y ecen , he ju isdic ions and esponsibili-
ies o na ional law en o cemen agencies need
o be p ecisely de ined. Addi ionally, a signi ican
amoun o speci ic aining o comba ing wildli e
poisoning, and en i onmen al c ime in gene al, is
needed o en o cemen agen s om he ele an
ins i u ions in o de o be able o adequa ely ad-
d ess po en ial poisoning e en s.
Poisoning in gene al is no pe cei ed as a e y
signi ican h ea o ul u es o o he wildli e by
he gene al popula ion inhabi ing u al a eas in
Albania, and he majo i y o people a e no well in-
o med abou his conse a ion issue. On he o h-
e hand, hey pe cei e ha li es ock b eede s and
hun e s a e g oups which migh o en eso o he
use o poison bai s as hey mos commonly ha e
con lic s wi h wildli e. These g oups a e pe cei ed
as he main culp i s behind wildli e poisoning
also by ele an go e nmen al au ho i ies, which
gene ally exhibi a signi ican ly highe ecological
awa eness when i comes o poisoning and wild-
li e c ime in gene al. The e o e, u u e an i-poison
e o s in Albania should also in eg a e a signi i-
can educa ional and awa eness aising compo-
nen aimed a changing he pe cep ion abou his
p ac ice and labeling i as a socially unaccep able
beha io .
24
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
In oduc ion
The nega i e e ec ha he use o poison bai s
has on wildli e is well documen ed in Bosnia and
He zego ina. The i s da a abou he e ec s o
his p ac ice on bi ds, especially on ul u es, was
no ed in O hma Reise ’s wo ks published in he
end o 19 h and i s yea s o 20 h cen u y, when i
was poin ed ou ha i is necessa y o egula e
he use o poisons in he en i onmen o p e en
he killing o Bea ded and G i on Vul u es. Vul-
u e popula ions in he coun y su e ed he se-
e es blow in he mid-20 h cen u y, when he use
o poisonous subs ances o ex e mina ing la ge
ca ni o es, mainly wol es, was a legally sanc-
ioned p ac ice. This uncon olled and unp ece-
den ed poisoning p ac ice led o ex inc ion o he
Cine eous (1910), Bea ded (1987) and Egyp ian
Vul u e (1995) om Bosnia and He zego ina.
The las majo poisoning e en was obse ed a
he beginning o he 1991 when he las b eeding
colony o G i on Vul u es in he coun y was poi-
soned in a single poisoning e en . In he las 20
yea s he p oblem o poisoning is s ill p esen , al-
hough almos no eco ds o massi e poisoning
inciden s o wildli e ha e been o icially epo ed
o he ele an ins i u ions. The e a e no sys em-
a ic eco ds o ele an da abase ela ed o wild-
li e poisoning inciden s in he coun y among he
ele an go e nmen al ins i u ions. Since 2018.
and he launch o he BAPP p ojec in Bosnia
and He zego ina, in o ma ion abou po en ial
poisoning inciden s has been sys ema ically
eco ded by O ni ološko d uš o “Naše p ice”,
which enables us some insigh in o he cu en
si ua ion o he illegal poisoning in he coun y,
His o ical pe spec i e
The e is e y li le a ailable da a ela ed o wild-
li e poisoning in gene al, and e en ewe da a e-
la ed o ul u e poisoning om Bosnia and He -
zego ina, al hough he use o poison bai s o
popula ion con ol and ex e mina ion o a ious
mammalian p eda o s and o he undesi able an-
imals is a well-documen ed p ac ice in he coun-
y. The e o e, a ian sca enge s could equen ly
encoun e poisoned dead animals (ei he as bai
o as ic ims o poisoning) in he en i onmen .
F om he middle o he 19 h o he middle o he
20 h cen u y S ychnine was ex ensi ely used o
he con ol o wol popula ions. The poisoning
was no selec i e and was a ec ing many o he
di e en species as well. Ano he eason o us-
ing poison was he con ol o popula ion o e al
and s ay dogs. La ge, o ganized poisoning ac-
ions, wi h he use o s ychnine and Hyd ogen
cyanide we e ca ied ou a e he II Wo ld Wa .
I is es ima ed ha a ound 220 ul u es (main-
ly G i on Vul u es) we e poisoned h oughou
Bosnia and He cego ina du ing 1959 alone
(Ma dešić & Dugački in Ma inko ić, 1999). The
p ac ice o illegal placing o poison bai s in he
en i onmen o he same easons con inued
h oughou he 80s and 90s. Du ing he pe iod o
1980-1991, 97 G i on Vul u es we e poisoned in
eas e n He cego ina (Ma inko ić e al. 2007). I
was p o en ha in some inciden s Fu adan (Ca -
bo u an) and hyd ogen cyanide we e used.
The las eco ded inciden o massi e poisoning
o ul u es in Bosnia and He zego ina was e-
co ded on June 26 h, 1991 in Blagaj, whe e he
las b eeding popula ion o G i on Vul u es used
o b eed, on cli s owe ing abo e he Buna Ri e .
Thi y G i on Vul u es we e ound poisoned a e
eeding on an animal ca cass laced wi h Fu a-
25
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
dan, which was placed in o de o elimina e s ay
and e al dogs om he icini y o a local se le-
men , acco ding o o icial epo s. This single
poisoning inciden wiped ou he las b eeding
popula ion in he coun y and he species hasn’
eco e ed since. Cu en ly he e a e no ul u e
species b eeding in Bosnia and He zego ina,
only ag an indi iduals o G i on Vul u es, and
ecen ly o ein oduced Cine eous Vul u es om
Bulga ia, ha e been eco ded lying ac oss he
coun y du ing he las 20 yea s.
Cu en si ua ion in he coun y
Fi s comp ehensi e in es iga ion o he p ac ice
o wildli e poisoning in Bosnia and He zego ina
was conduc ed h ough he implemen a ion o
he BAPP p ojec , which was implemen ed om
2018-2021. Wi hin his pe iod, e o s we e main-
ly in es ed in de e mining he cu en scope o
his p ac ice on a na ional le el, d i e s behind i ,
subs ances mos commonly used and a eas in
he coun y whe e i mos o en occu s (o whe e
con lic s wi h wildli e, especially p eda o s, ha e
been eco ded he mos ).
The e is e y li le in o ma ion ega ding wildli e
poisoning a ailable in gene al, bo h om he el-
e an go e nmen al au ho i ies and media, and
e en less abou poisoning inciden s ele an o
ul u e mo ali y, he d i e s behind i and he
subs ances mos equen ly used. Based on he
a ailable da a a o al o 6 p esumable poisoning
wildli e inciden s ha e been eco ded in Bosnia
and He zego ina om 2000-2020, mainly due o
misuse o pes icides in ag icul u e. The las mas-
si e poisoning inciden was eco ded in 2004
nea Sa aje o, whe e 20 Common Buzza ds
we e ound dead on an ag icul u al ield. The
misuse o oden icides o con ol o oden pop-
ula ions was belie ed o be he cause behind his
inciden , like he one eco ded in 2017, whe e 2
Whi e S o ks we e ound dead in V baška.
Since 2018, 4 p esumable wildli e poisoning in-
ciden s we e eco ded, wi h no in o ma ion a ail-
able abou he mo i es behind hem o poison-
ing subs ances used. In 2018 one G i on Vul u e
was suspec ed o ha e died o poisoning in he
eco e y a ia y in Blagaj. In 2020, 3 Wes e n
Ma sh-ha ie s we e ound dead in Gacko mos
likely due o misuse o pes icides in ag icul u e.
In he Can on o Sa aje o, he same yea 1 Eu -
asian B own bea and Pe eg ine Falcon we e
ound dead, p esumably poisoned. The nec op-
sy conduc ed on he bea concluded ha he e
we e indica i e signs o poisoning. Howe e ,
since he e a e cu en ly no e e en oxicological
labo a o ies in Bosnia and He zego ina o con-
duc ing o ensic oxicological analysis on wildli e
i is no possible o conduc necessa y analyses
o alida e i he cause o dea h was ac ually poi-
soning and wha was he subs ance used. Addi-
ionally, he cu en legisla ion does no pe mi
samples om wildli e, especially p o ec ed spe-
cies o be anspo ed o oxicological analysis
in e e en labo a o ies ab oad, which u he
complica es he issue o o icially con i ming poi-
soning inciden s in he coun y. The e o e, i is i-
al ha u u e conse a ion e o s in Bosnia and
He zego ina ele an o wildli e poisoning ocus
on amending he cu en legisla ion in place and
de elop capaci ies wi hin exis ing ele an na-
ional labo a o ies o conduc ing oxicological
analysis on samples ob ained om wild animals.
Since hal o he eco ded wildli e poisoning in-
ciden s in he las 20 yea s indica e ha he ani-
mals mos likely died om seconda y poisoning,
due o imp ope applica ion o oden icides in
ag icul u al a eas, i is impo an o no e ha his
unin en ional poisoning cons i u es a signi ican
ac o in Bosnia and He zego ina. Poisonous
subs ances a e mos ly used by a me s, mos o
hem insu icien ly in o med abou p ope usage
and applica ion. The e a e legal p o ocols ha
p esc ibe he p ope manne and amoun o use
o hese subs ances, howe e adequa e en o ce-
men o hese p o ocols is comple ely lacking o
is es ic ed o la ge, comme cial a ms. The e is
no con ol o he applica ion o hese subs ances
by small a me s and a ms eads. Fu he mo e,
i is impo an o no e ha he p ocu emen o
banned subs ances is e y much p esen in he
coun y and is o en conduc ed h ough social
ne wo ks (Facebook), a ious web si es, indi-
ca ing ha a black ma ke o hese subs ances
exis s.
32
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
p o ec ion o wild ungula e popula ions, esol ing
he issues o pas u e owne ship and he igh o
use hem, ensu ing ee elec ic ences and s a e/
go e nmen inancial compensa ion o he dam-
ages caused by wild animals o li es ock b eede s
and a me s, ha e a key place in he p e en ion o
wildli e poisoning inciden s.
Acco ding o he esponden s, all ci izens need
o be be e in o med o whom hey should epo
cases o poisoning o wild animals. Also, i is nec-
essa y o p omo e he p o ec ion o ul u es and
in o m he ci izens abou he dange s o poisoning
o c ea e a clima e in which ci izens a e no a aid
o isks and con lic s in hei en i onmen i hey e-
po poisoning cases.
The sensi i i y o he na u al balance and he pos-
sibili y o i being easily dis u bed, as well as he
limi ed esou ces and space on Ea h, we e unan-
imously ecognized by a ge g oup o employees
in he ins i u ions o Bosnia and He zego ina. On
he o he hand, al hough plan s and animals a e
ecognized as equal in e ms o he igh o li e and
exis ence, he p esence o he a i ude ha people
a e des ined o ule o e na u e is s ill e iden .
Conclusions
Al hough e o s ha e been made in he pas se -
e al yea s o de e mine he ac ual scope o wildli e
poisoning in Bosnia and He zego ina by na ion-
al CSOs, he e has been e y li le da a a ailable
abou his occu ence in he coun y du ing he
las 20 yea s, al hough i has been a deeply oo ed
p ac ice un il he 1990s. Almos no a ailable da a
abou animal poisoning exis s among he ele an
go e nmen al au ho i ies in he coun y, despi e
he ac ha he p ac ice o using poison bai s o
elimina e undesi able animals has been illegal o
mo e han 30 yea s. Exis ing da a almos exclu-
si ely ela es o poisoning o pe s, mos ly dogs,
in u ban en i onmen s. The lack o a e e en na-
ional labo a o y whe e i would be possible o con-
duc o ensic oxicological analysis, o con i m i
a wild animal has indeed died as a consequence
o poisoning, u he complica es he issue. Mos
p esumable poisoning e en s in ol ing wildli e e-
la e o unin en ional poisoning mainly due o inad-
equa e use o pes icides o o he plan p o ec ion
p oduc s used in ag icul u e.
On he o he hand, wildli e poisoning is pe cei ed
as one o he h ee key h ea s o ul u es in Bosnia
and He zego ina by he gene al popula ion in u-
al a eas, apa om poaching and he lack o ood.
Vul u es a e no pe cei ed as p ima y a ge s o
poisoning, bu mos ly as acciden al a ali ies om
poison bai s in ended o o he animals. Howe e ,
u he educa ional and awa eness aising ac ions
abou he dange s o illegal poisoning o animals,
and he impo ance o epo ing hese inciden s o
he ele an au ho i ies, need o be implemen ed
as almos hal o he su eyed people in u al a eas
conside con olled ins i u ionally conduc ed poi-
soning o wild animals o be an adequa e measu e
o con ol o popula ions o pes s and undesi -
able animals. Addi ionally, a g ea majo i y o su -
eyed people in Bosnia and He zego ina pe cei e
ha wildli e poisoning mos ly occu s in en ionally
(mos ly by illegal poisons om he black ma ke
and o a somewha lowe pe cen age by abuse o
legal poisoning subs ances such as pes icides,
insec icides, e c.). The e o e, i is e y p obable
ha a signi ican numbe o in en ional poisoning
inciden s emains unno iced and un epo ed. Peo-
ple om he local communi ies pe cei e ha he
esponsibili y o wildli e poisoning mainly o es s
on hun e s, indi iduals who delibe a ely poison
animals simply because hey like killing hings and
li es ock b eede s and a me s.
Al hough Bosnia and He zego ina has a compli-
ca ed poli ical and adminis a i e se ing, he exis -
ing legisla ion in place clea ly p ohibi s he use o
poison bai s and any simila means o non-selec-
i e ex i pa ion o animals. Rele an law en o ce-
men ins i u ions in he coun y a e inexpe ienced
in dealing in poisoning inciden s, and signi ican
e o s need o be in es ed o build up hei capac-
i ies in o de o be able o ackle his speci ic ype
o en i onmen al c ime. The lack o coo dina ion
and coope a ion among ele an go e nmen al in-
s i u ions, lack o clea ope a ional p o ocols, and
he possibili y o conduc ing oxicological analysis
on wild animals a e ecognized as he main gaps
ha esul in poo engagemen and pe o mance
o he ele an au ho i ies wi h wildli e poisoning in
he coun y.
33
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
BULGARIA
In oduc ion
Du ing he middle o he 20 h cen u y he use o poi-
soned bai s was widely and sys ema ically used o
con ol popula ions o wild p eda o s in Bulga ia,
much like o he neighbo ing coun ies o he Bal-
kan egion. The e ec s o his legal, go e nmen-
ally sponso ed ini ia i e back hen a e well doc-
umen ed. The Bea ded Vul u e is conside ed o
ha e been ex inc since he 1970s when he las
indi idual was ound poisoned in he Eas e n Bal-
kan Moun ains. Since hen, only single ag an in-
di iduals ha e been i egula ly obse ed in sou h-
e n Bulga ia. The Cine eous Vul u e has been ex-
inc om Bulga ia since 1993. The las b eeding
pai o he species was con i med in 1993 in he
Eas e n Rhodopes. Decades o wo k on ul u e
conse a ion in he coun y conduc ed by he na-
ional CSOs, and in pa icula ly h ough he ecen
ein oduc ion e o s wi hin Vul u es back o LIFE
p ojec (LIFE14 NAT/BG/000649) ha e c ea ed a-
o able condi ions o he species o b eed again.
In 2021 i s b eeding a emp s o he Cine eous
Vul u es ha e been documen ed a e nea ly 20
yea s. The G i on Vul u e popula ion in Bulga ia
apidly declined h oughou mos o he 20 h cen-
u y and was hough o be ex inc in he coun y
in he 1960s mainly due o wildli e poisoning and
changes in animal husband y p ac ices.
In he beginning o he 90s Bulga ia a i ied he Be n
Con en ion and he p ac ice o using poison bai s
was inally banned. Addi ionally, he es ablishmen
o he Na u a 2000 ne wo k in Bulga ia and hence
he inco po a ion o he Bi ds and Habi a s Di ec i e
u he ein o ced na ional legisla ion. Howe e , al-
hough andomly dis ibu ed spa ially and empo al-
ly, he illegal use o poison bai s is s ill p ac iced as
a common me hod o ex i pa ion o wild p eda o s,
bi ds o p ey, e al and s ay dogs, and any o he un-
wan ed animals (e.g., wild boa , ho ses e c.).
De ec ion o poisoning inciden s e y much de-
pends on he e o s in es ed in ield sea ches o
signs o poisoning o poisoned animals. Recen ly,
h ough implemen a ion o se e al LIFE p ojec s,
signi ican p og ess has been made in de ec ion
o poisoning, p ope p ocessing o poisoned an-
imals, de elopmen o an i-poison awa eness
campaigns and judicial p ocessing o poisoning
inciden s. Since he beginning o he 21s cen u-
y sys ema ic eco ds and documen a ion o poi-
soning inciden s ha e been kep , especially hose
ela ed o ul u e mo ali y, by na ional CSOs
wo king on bi d conse a ion in he coun y.
His o ical pe spec i e
His o ical da a ele an o wildli e poisoning in
Bulga ia da es om he e y beginning o he 20 h
cen u y, when Cyanide and A senic we e com-
monly used o kill indisc imina ely any mammalian
p eda o s and bi ds o p ey deemed undesi able
o ha m ul o human ac i i ies. Du ing he middle
o he 20 h cen u y S ychnine was in oduced and
widely and sys ema ically used by o es y o ice s,
e e ina y o ice s and hun e s o such pu poses
in a na ionalized and cen alized economy o he
coun y. A e 1962 ul u es we e lis ed as p o ec -
ed species in Bulga ia, bu he main eason o hei
popula ion decline – he use o poison bai s was
no o icially banned.
No speci ic su ey on poisoned wildli e animals
was conduc ed, no eco ds o such inciden s kep ,
un il he 90s, when BSPB p ojec membe s in he
Eas e n Rhodopes s a ed o conduc oxicological
analyses o dead ul u es. Howe e , his p ac ice
was in ensi ely in oduced in wildli e conse a ion
in Bulga ia since 2003 wi h he appoin men o Na-
ional wo king g oup on poisoning inciden s which
was coo dina ed by Fund o Wild Flo e and Fau-
34
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
na (FWFF) wi hin he Balkan Vul u e Ac ion Plan
(BVAP). The FWFF, G een Balkans, BSPB, Bi ds
o P ey P o ec ion Socie y (BPPS), Balkani Wildli e
Socie y and o he s wo k on hei own p ojec s and
in co-o dina ion o comba he illegal use o poison
bai s in he en i onmen .
Cu en si ua ion in he coun y
Na u e conse a ion o ganiza ions in Bulga ia
ha e been e y ac i e in add essing he issue o
wildli e poisoning, as i is one o he main h ea s
ha na ional popula ion o ul u es and o he
sca enge species a e acing, and a e managing
hei own da abases abou his p ac ice, such as
FWFF. Addi ionally, unde he scope o LIFE+ p oj-
ec “The Re u n o he Neoph on” (LIFE10NAT/
BG/000152), BSPB has es ablished oge he wi h
o he p ojec pa ne s he Poison Inciden Da a-
base (PID), whe e a ailable da a abou poisoning
inciden s ha occu in Bulga ia a e s o ed. A uni-
ied na ional da abase o eco ding and s o ing in-
o ma ion ega ding wildli e poisoning inciden s is
key o conduc ing adequa e spa ial analysis, de-
e mining he scope and se e i y o poisoning, and
de ining ho spo s o poisoning in he coun y and
subsequen ly di ec ing conse a ion ac ions and
e o whe e hey a e mos needed.
Minis y o En i onmen and Wa e in 2021 ap-
p o ed he Na ional Ac ion plan o comba he illic-
i use o poisons in he wild, de eloped by BSPB.
This plan ep esen s an ex emely impo an ool
o comba ing one o he bigges h ea s o biodi-
e si y in Bulga ia. The en y in o o ce o his s a-
egic documen is a key s ep in he conse a ion o
wildli e and a numbe o endange ed species in he
coun y.
A ailable in o ma ion abou wildli e poisoning in
Bulga ia indica es ha 88 poisoning and p esum-
ably poisoning e en s ha e occu ed in he coun-
y du ing he pe iod 2000-2020. Acco ding o he
da a compiled and analyzed in his s udy he mos
common d i e behind he use o poison in Bulga ia
a e li es ock losses, in lic ed by mammalian p ed-
a o s, p edominan ly wol es (iden i ied in 38% o
egis e ed poisoning e en s whe e mammalian
p eda o s we e he a ge ), bu also jackals, oxes,
and bea s. In 2 poisoning e en s whe e bea s we e
a ge ed, honey mixed wi h oxic compounds was
used as a bai . The second mos nume ous cause
o poisoning o wildli e in Bulga ia is misuse o pes i-
cides in ag icul u e, which is esponsible o 26,1%
documen ed e en s (Figu e 6.). Al hough his ype
o poisoning is unin en ional, banned pes icides,
such as Ca bo u an, ha e been used o p epa a-
ion o poison bai s agains oden s. Con lic s wi h
bi ds o p ey, ha may o en in lic damages o ac-
ing pigeons, and con lic s wi h shephe d dogs, un-
wan ed by hun e s because o con lic s wi h hei
dogs, as well as con lic s wi h s ay dogs a e also
iden i ied as mo i es o using poison in Bulga ia.
con lic s wi h p eda o s
con lic s wi h shephe d dogs
con lic s wi h bi ds o p ey
unknown
30%
26%
39%
3%
1%
1%
Missuse o pes icides in ag icul u e
con lic wi h s ay dogs
Figu e 6. Mo i es behind wildli e poisoning in Bulga ia
35
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Depending on he d i e s behind poison use,
he e a e se e al di e en g oups o he socie y
ha mos equen ly use poison o kill wildli e, do-
mes ic animals o li es ock: hun e s, game keep-
e s, li es ock b eede s, do e and pigeon keepe s,
a me s. The si ua ion wi h poison use is e y
much dynamic and inciden s may appea an-
domly in space and ime. The mos impo an a -
eas howe e (ho spo s o poisoning) a e hose in
which la ge ca ni o es (wol , jackal, bea ) a e e-
quen ly p esen and especially a eas wi h ex en-
si e animal husband y. I is mo e e icien o ocus
an i-poison ac ions o a eas whe e ce ain con-
se a ion dependen species a e p esen . How-
e e , a na ional an i-poison campaign co e ing all
a ge g oups is c ucial o comba ing his issue
long- e m. The e is no es ic ion o season when
i comes o wildli e poisoning, bu he ul u es a e
usually a ec ed in Ma ch-May, when he li es ock
is abou o be mo ed o summe pas u es.
Acco ding o he a ailable da a compiled o his
s udy, oxic compounds ha we e used o poi-
soning we e iden i ied in 54% o wildli e poisoning
e en s. The mos equen ly used oxic subs anc-
es o wildli e poisoning a e Ca bama es, mos
no ably Me homyl and Ca bo u an, and O gano-
phospha es. The las poisoning inciden whe e
S ychnine was used was egis e ed in 2003. Tox-
icological analysis also con i med he use o Zink
phospha e o poisoning animals, and Lindane,
which is o en used bo h as an ag icul u al insec-
icide and as a pha maceu ical ea men o lice
and scabies.
S ic e con ol o legally used pes icides and hei
applica ion in ag icul u e should be en o ced as
well, whe e conse a ion dependen species may
be poisoned in a able a eas whe e hese sub-
s ances a e applied legally. These ac ions should
be planned species by species and si e by si e be-
cause subs ances ha a e le hal o one species
may no be oo dange ous o o he s ( ela ed o
he way o applica ion and in oduc ion in he ood
chain) and ice e sa.
0
G i on
Vul u e
Common
Buzza d
Egyp ian
Vul u e
Ra en Golden
Eagle
Wol Red FoxGolden
Jackal
Impe ial
Eagle
10
20
30
50
40
60
70
Inciden s Casual ies
Figu e 7. Common ic ims o wildli e poisoning in Bulga ia
36
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
A o al o 30 species o wild animals ha e been
ound poisoned o p esumably poisoned du ing
he pe iod om 2000-2020. The mos common
ic ims we e G i on Vul u es, appea ing in 17% o
poisoning and p esumably poisoning e en s (Fig-
u e 7). Six y ul u es in o al we ound poisoned
and p esumably poisoned wi hin 15 sepa a e in-
ciden s, bu i is es ima ed ha up o 90 bi ds ul-
ima ely migh ha e pe ished om his p ac ice.
The mos de as a ing poisoning e en du ing
his pe iod occu ed in Ma ch 2017 in he a ea o
K esna go ge (Peshe e al. 2018). The numbe
o dead bi ds disco e ed amoun ed o 18, and i
was es ima ed ha a leas 30-40 bi ds migh ha e
died, which was a signi ican blow o he local pop-
ula ion, which had been es o ed he e a e yea s
o conse a ion wo k. The G i on Vul u es ound
dead cons i u ed he bulk o he local b eeding pop-
ula ion.The ele an au ho i ies con i med ha he
subs ance used o poisoning was Ca bo u an and
i is p o ed ha he mo i e behind his inciden was
con lic s wi h wol es. The second mos common
ic im o poisoning e en s acco ding o he a ail-
able da a in Bulga ia (Figu e 7.) is he Egyp ian Vul-
u e (19 indi iduals in 11 sepa a e inciden s), ol-
lowed by he Common Buzza d (40 indi iduals in
10 sepa a e inciden s), Red Fox (13 indi iduals in
10 sepa a e inciden s) and Wol (25 indi iduals in
9 sepa a e inciden s). O he ic ims o wildli e poi-
soning include Cine eous Vul u e, Golden Eagle,
Impe ial Eagle, Long-legged Buzza d, Pe eg ine
Falcon, Sake Falcon, Goshawk, Hen Ha ie , Ra-
en, Black S o k, Whi e S o k, Common S a ling,
Pa idge, Ba n Owl, Tawny Owl, Gold inch, G ea -
e Whi e- on ed Goose, Golden Jackal, Wild Boa ,
B own Bea , Ma bled poleca , S one Ma en, Bad-
ge , Hedgehog and Ha e. The mos nume ous ic-
im du ing his pe iod was he Common S a ling, as
244 indi iduals we e ound p esumably poisoned
wi hin 3 sepa a e e en s, om which 224 indi idu-
als in a single p obable poisoning e en due o mis-
use o pes icides in ag icul u e.
A ailable da a indica es ha wildli e poisoning in
Bulga ia is s ill a common p ac ice, showing no
signs o signi ican dec ease o occu ence du ing
he pas 20 yea s. The equency o occu ence o
poisoning e en s in Bulga ia is highly i egula and
u he e o s a e needed o in es iga e he annual
di e ences in he numbe o eco ded e en s and i
hey uly e lec he ac ual scope o wildli e poison-
ing in he coun y.
Figu e 8. Numbe o poisoning e en s in Bulga ia wi hin he esea ch pe iod
0
2001 2005 2010 2015 2020
6
2
1
0
5
8
12
11
5
0 0
33 3
2
4 4
6
7
1
5
8
8
12
4
10
14
37
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Map 4. Dis ibu ion o poisoning e en s by egions in Bulga ia du ing 2000-2020.
Single case o poisoning
2-5 cases o poisoning
5-10 cases o poisoning
10-25 cases o poisoning
25-50 cases o poisoning
50+ cases o poisoning
38
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Legal amewo k
Na ional legisla ion o Bulga ia s ic ly p ohibi s
he use o poison bai s o kill hun ing and p o ec -
ed species. The ac ion o se ing poison bai s on
i s own is o bidden, bu poo ly desc ibed and ad-
d essed in exis ing legisla ion and hus di e en ly
in e p e ed and o en no applicable. In he C im-
inal Code, owning highly oxic subs ances wi h-
ou pe mission is conside ed illegal. Howe e , all
hese measu es a e no enough, and addi ional
explana o y ex s and jus i ica ions should be in-
cluded in exis ing legisla ion.
Exis ing na ional legisla ion ele an o wild-
li e poisoning in Bulga ia:
• Biological Di e si y Ac (S a e Gaze e
No. 77/9.08.2002): A icle 44. p ohibi s
he use o poison, poisoned o anes he ic
bai s (Annex 5) o cap u ing o killing any
species lis ed in Annex 4 o he Biological
Di e si y Ac . Rele an EU legisla ion - Di-
ec i e 79/409/EEC o he Council o Ap il
2, 1979, on he conse a ion o wild bi ds
and Di ec i e 92/43/EEC o he Council
o May 21, 1992 on he conse a ion o
na u al habi a s and wild auna and lo a
we e in eg a ed in o he abo e men ioned
na ional legisla ion.
• Law o hun ing and p o ec ion o game
(SG. 78/26 Sep 2000, amend. SG. 26/20
Ma 2001, amend. SG. 77/9 Aug 2002,
amend. SG. 79/16 Aug 2002): A icle 65.
p ohibi s he use o poisonous o anes-
he ic subs ances, as well as bai s wi h
such subs ances as a means o me hod
in hun ing.
• Penal Code: Acco ding o a icle 237.
(Amend., SG 28/82; SG 89/86; SG 86/91;
SG 85/97; amend., SG 92/02) who kills
o ca ches such game in ime o p ohibi-
ion, in a p ohibi ed place o by p ohibi ed
means, shall be punished by co ec i e
labo o up o six mon hs o by a ine o
one hund ed o h ee hund ed le s, as
well as by e oking o igh s acco ding o
a . 37, i em 7.
Rele an in e na ional ea ies and con en-
ions ha Bulga ia is pa ies o:
Con en ion on he Conse a ion o Eu ope-
an Wildli e and Na u al Habi a s (Be n, 1979):
Ra i ied by a i ied by Bulga ia on 25.01.1999,
in o ce o Bulga ia since 01.05.1991 (S a e
Gaze e ¹ 23/1995). I p ohibi s he use o any
non-selec i e means o cap u e o killing as well
as o means ha may induce local ex inc ion
o hea ily dis u b he popula ions o a species,
namely means lis ed in Annex IV”, while in Annex
IV o he same Law, which is en i led “P ohibi ed
means and me hods o hun ing and o he o ms o
exploi a ion”, “Poisons and poison o anquilizing
bai s” a e included.
Pe cep ion o he illegal p ac ice
o wildli e poisoning wi hin ele an
go e nmen al au ho i ies in Bulga ia
Resea ch abou he pe cep ion o key audiences
in local communi ies, as well as ele an go e n-
men al ins i u ions in Bulga ia, was no he a ge
o he scope o his s udy. Howe e , e o s we e
made o ob ain in o ma ion om ele an ins i u-
ions h ough he online su ey, while we did no
ha e su icien capaci ies o conduc he su eys
in local communi ies whe e wildli e poisoning is
equen ly egis e ed.
Employees o ele an ins i u ions in Bulga ia a e
mos ly well in o med abou he p esence o ce -
ain species o ul u es on he e i o y o Bulga ia
oday, such as he G i on Vul u e and Egyp ian
Vul u e.
Wildli e poisoning is no acknowledged as he
mos impo an h ea o he exis ence o ul u es
in Bulga ia. The key pe cei ed h ea s o he ul-
u e popula ion in Bulga ia a e acciden al elec o-
cu ion om elec ic cables o ences, excessi e
and negligen use o legal poisons (pes icides,
insec icides, oden icides) and acciden al con-
sump ion o poisoned animals by ul u es. On
he o he hand, wildli e poisoning is ecognized
as o ce ain ex en acciden al, bu o ce ain ex-
en also in en ional, using illegal poisons om he
black ma ke .
39
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
The main esponsibili y o wildli e poisoning lies
wi h hun e s, li es ock b eede s, a me s, and
people who delibe a ely poison animals o kill
hem, while he key easons o he poisoning
o ul u es a e p o ec ion o pas u es and li e-
s ock om wild animals and p o ec ion o hun -
ing g ounds. O he impo an easons a e con-
lic s be ween people o e land use (pas u es,
hun ing g ounds), p o ec ion om pes s ( a s,
insec s, e c.), p o ec ion o pigeons om bi ds o
p ey, p o ec ion o ag icul u al land om wildli e
and bi ds o p ey and e en p o ec ion om s ay
dogs and ca s.
The esponsibili y o epo ing inciden s o poi-
soning o ins i u ions in cha ge hus lies wi h ci -
izens, hun e s, and e e ina ians while ci izens in
gene al and li es ock b eede s ha e been singled
ou as he key a ge g oups o awa eness- ais-
ing campaigns on wildli e poisoning. Howe e ,
esponden s also ecognize ha he epo ing
p ocess o he inciden s o poisoning emains
challenging because hose who epo someone
isk con lic s in hei communi ies.
The alleys o he S uma, Rila and Pi in i e s
a e pe cei ed as he key a eas mos o en a ec -
ed by animal poisoning. The Fo ebalkans, S a a
Planina, T ans-Balkan ields, he alley o he i -
e Mes a and he Rhodopes ha e been iden i ied
as well.
The key obs acles o he p e en ion and sanc-
ioning o wildli e poisoning ha e been iden i ied
as he complexi y o he in es iga ion, di icul ies
wi h e idence in he cou , he insu icien educa-
ion o public p osecu o s o handling cases e-
la ed o poisoning o wild animals, he insu icien
o a e applica ion o penal ies based on he laws
go e ning hun ing g ounds, and he black ma ke
o illegal poisons on he In e ne .
Responden s a e mos ly unin o med o belie e
ha he e a e no da abases on poisoning in-
ciden s, ha he e is no na ional ac ion plan o
comba poisoning o p o ocol de ining p oce-
du es and esponsibili ies in in es iga ions o
wildli e poisoning. The coope a ion be ween
go e nmen al ins i u ions and ci il socie y o -
ganiza ions ega ding da a collec ion abou poi-
soning inciden s, is also mos ly pe cei ed as
inadequa e, o esponden s s a e hey a e unde-
cided and canno e alua e i .
Low penal ies o wildli e poisoning, he quali y o
he legal amewo k o punishing animal poison-
ing and whe he he exis ing legisla ion egula es
biodi e si y p o ec ion well enough, as well as in-
adequa e law en o cemen a e also pe cei ed as
impo an obs acles in he p e en ion, de ec ion
and sanc ioning o wildli e poisoning.
The ole o he Police and he in es iga ion o wild-
li e poisoning a e ecognized as ele an police
wo k, poin ing o he need o in oduce special-
ized police uni s ha would deal wi h he c imes
o wildli e poisoning. Responden s ha e di ided
opinions ega ding he su iciency o police o ce
educa ion and aining o in es iga e wildli e inci-
den s, he need o in oduce mode n echnology
and me hods, and he ex en o he p oblem o no
epo ing inciden s o police. Rega ding he in es-
iga ion o animal poisoning inciden s, impo an
solu ions include he need o specialized police
uni s o en i onmen al c imes, including wildli e
poisoning, police ein o cemen wi h specialized
canine uni s o de ec ing poisonous subs ances
used o wildli e poisoning, and he need o pu
mo e agen s in he ield (police, en i onmen al
inspec o s, ange s, e c.) o imely de ec ion o
poisoning inciden s.
Imposing o a s ic e con ol o he ade o legal
poisoning subs ances (pes icides, oden icides,
e c.), aising awa eness o he gene al public and
key s akeholde s (li es ock b eede s, a me s,
hun e s, ins i u ions), en o cing se e e punish-
men s o all o ms o mass and non-disc imina o-
y killing o animals, as well as highe penal ies o
e e y o m o poaching/ illegal shoo ing, esol ing
issues o he owne ship o pas u es and igh s o
use hem and s a e / go e nmen inancial com-
pensa ion o he damage caused by wild animals
o li es ock b eede s and a me s a e iden i ied as
ha ing a key place in he p e en ion o wildli e poi-
soning inciden s.
Responden s ecognize ha ange s in p o ec ed
a eas should ha e he au ho i y o a es pe pe-
a o s who poison animals i hey a e caugh in
40
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
he ac , and i poisoning o wild animals occu s in
a comme cial hun ing a ea, he concessionai e
should be dep i ed o he concession.
Inc eased numbe o supplemen a y eeding
si es o ul u es, and be e p o ec ion o wild
ungula e popula ions also ha e a key place in he
p e en ion o wildli e poisoning inciden s in he
opinion o he employees om ele an go e n-
men al ins i u ions.
Ecological awa eness among he esponden s
employed in ins i u ions in Bulga ia is e iden in
hei a i udes abou he sensi i i y o he na u al
balance and he possibili y o i being easily dis-
u bed, as well as he ac ha plan s and animals
ha e he same igh o exis as humans. Some o
he esponden s, howe e , s ill belie e ha peo-
ple a e des ined o ule o e na u e, and hey ail
o ecognize ha he Ea h is like a spaceship,
wi h e y limi ed space and esou ces.
Conclusions
The p ac ice o wildli e poisoning in Bulga ia
is s ill an e iden h ea o many wild species
in Bulga ia, especially o a ian sca enge s
inhabi ing he coun y such as ul u es. The
mos common mo i e behind in en ional use
o poison and poison bai s emains o be con-
lic s wi h mammalian p eda o s, which o en
in lic damages o li es ock and o he ypes o
ag icul u al p oduc ion. Wol es a e iden i ied
as he p ima y a ge s o poison bai s, bu also
jackals, oxes and bea s a e speci ically a ge -
ed. The inc ease in numbe s and expansion o
he dis ibu ion o jackals h oughou Bulga ia,
and wol es in ce ain a eas, a e po en ially a
cause o conce n as i migh lead o he mo e
equen con lic s wi h li es ock b eede s, hun -
e s and game keepe s, which a e iden i ied as
g oups o socie y ha mos o en use poison
o kill animals. Ca bama es, mos no ably Ca -
bo u an and Me homyl, a e mos o en used o
p epa a ion o poison bai s in Bulga ia, which
indica es ha an illegal ma ke , o s ockpiles o
hese subs ances exis in Bulga ia, simila o
o he coun ies om he egion.
Vul u es con inue o be he mos common ic ims
o illegal wildli e poisoning in Bulga ia, appea ing
as ic ims in e e y hi d poisoning e en . G i on
Vul u e popula ion su e ed he mos om his
p ac ice du ing he las 20 yea s, as 60 indi idu-
als in o al we e ound poisoned and p esumably
poisoned, bu i is es ima ed ha up o 90 bi ds
ul ima ely migh ha e pe ished om his illegal
p ac ice du ing his pe iod.
Non-go e nmen al o ganiza ions in Bulga ia
ha e been e y ac i e in comba ing illegal wildli e
poisoning, as he main h ea o ul u e popula-
ions since he begging o he 21s cen u y. Imple-
men ed ac ions ha ange om awa eness ais-
ing among key s akeholde s and gene al public,
applying p e en i e measu es in local commu-
ni ies whe e con lic s wi h p eda o s occu egu-
la ly, p o iding speci ic aining o ele an go -
e nmen al ins i u ions, se ing up da abases o
eco d all po en ial poisoning inciden s, and using
GPS acked bi ds as sen inels o poisoning ha e
signi ican ly impac ed he pe cep ion abou his
p ac ice and is indeed esponsible o pe iodical
dec eases in he numbe o eco ded poisoning
e en s in Bulga ia. Bulga ia’s Minis y o En i on-
men and Wa e ecen ly app o ed he coun y’s
Na ional Ac ion Plan o comba he illici use o
poisons in he wild, which is a key s ep owa ds
c ea ing a unc ional sys em o comba ing his
en i onmen al issue. Fu he speci ic aining o
law en o cemen agen s is c ucial o ein o cing
his ac ion plan and ensu ing i s success ul imple-
men a ion in he long un.
41
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
CROATIA
In oduc ion
The i s known o ganized and go e nmen ally
sponso ed poisoning campaigns in C oa ia s a -
ed a e he II Wo ld Wa , bu such p ac ices we e
p esen since he u n o he 20 h cen u y, as a legal
me hod ha hun e s used o ex i pa e mammalian
p eda o s, p ima ily wol es and oxes. S ychnine
was commonly used o he p epa a ion o poison
bai s in an a emp o esol e he issue o wol p e-
da ion on sheep and o he li es ock. Al hough he
use o poison bai s o p eda o con ol was banned
in 1972, he p ac ice linge ed on among li es ock
b eede s, hawing a de imen al e ec p ima ily on
ul u e popula ions in he coun y.
G i on Vul u e used o be widesp ead along he
C oa ian coas and i was also egula in some pa s
o con inen al C oa ia un il he end o 19 h cen u y.
Th oughou he 20 h cen u y i s b eeding a ea in
C oa ia was cons an ly sh inking and in la e 20 h
cen u y i became es ic ed only in he K a ne is-
lands. The Cine eous Vul u e wen ex inc in C oa-
ia du ing he 1950s, while he Egyp ian Vul u e was
egis e ed as a b eeding species o he las ime in
1987. The Bea ded Vul u e is belie ed o ha e gone
ex inc in 1910. Reasons behind se e e popula ion
declines o ul u es in C oa ia a e loss o adi ional
a ming p ac ices and he widesp ead p ac ice o
poisoning, especially a e he II Wo ld Wa .
Conce ning ul u e popula ions, he bigges p ob-
lems s a ed du ing he second hal o 1980s, when
hun e s in oduced Wild Boa s as a game species
o he K a ne Islands. Du ing he same pe iod an
inc easing numbe o Golden Jackals and B own
Bea s s a ed o c oss om he mainland o is-
lands and o in lic damages on li es ock, espe-
cially lambs. When he Minis y o En i onmen al
and Na u e P o ec ion issued he o de o hun e s
o elimina e all in oduced species om all islands
in C oa ia, hun e s e used o emo e hem. Wild
boa s, jackals and bea s killed housands o sheep
(no only lambs) and shephe ds became despe -
a e, and he easies way o hem o elimina e his
h ea was o place poison in sheep ca casses. Al-
hough poison use has been p ohibi ed in C oa ia
by he Na ional Hun ing Ac o 1972, i is s ill p ac-
iced, especially a e he ailu e o he go e nmen
o en o ce he legisla ion ela ed o emo al o in o-
duced and in asi e game animals om he K a ne
islands. Fu he mo e, di e en banned subs ances
(no ably Ca bo u an) can s ill easily be acqui ed on
he black ma ke om neighbo ing coun ies.
His o ical pe spec i e
The p ac ice o wildli e poisoning is a well-docu-
men ed p ac ice in C oa ia. Sys ema ic eco ds
ela ed o mo ali y o wildli e, and especially ul-
u es, ha e been kep by CSOs, while a cen alized
da abase wi hin ele an go e nmen al ins i u ions
is s ill lacking.
The ex en o wildli e poisoning in C oa ia can be
easily pe cei ed om se e al well-documen ed
eco ds. Fo example, in Go ski ko a (small pa o
C oa ia – 1.273 sq.km), whe e du ing he 40-yea
pe iod (1946-1985) 26 b own bea s and 177 wol s
we e ound poisoned, while du ing 1961-1972
3.6 wol es/yea we e poisoned (F ko ić in Sušić
2000). These poisoning inciden s we e a pa o he
go e nmen al sponso ed poisoning campaigns,
which s a ed a e he II Wo ld Wa , simila o o he
coun ies in he egion.
In he pe iod om 1996-2013, in he Rescue Cen e
o G i on ul u es, 157 G i on ul u es a i ed, 31
o which died, and 12 o hem had signi ican neu-
ological symp oms. In he same pe iod, 59 dead
ul u es we e ound (o which 17 in one inciden
48
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
By a he la ges numbe o esponden s (61.7%)
belie e ha he mos impo an hing is o aise
awa eness abou animal poisoning among ci i-
zens in gene al, wi h no s a is ically signi ican di -
e ence be ween li es ock, a me s and hun e s.
O he necessa y p e en i e measu es, espond-
en s a e mos inclined o he s a e o compensa e
li es ock and a me s o wild animals, ollowed
by a measu e o in o m he public abou he p ob-
lem o wildli e poisoning, ollowed by measu es
o con ol he impo and ade o legal oxic sub-
s ances and aising ines o wildli e poisoning. A
he same ime, li es ock b eede s a e mo e in-
clined o ag ee wi h he s a emen abou he need
o he s a e o compensa e a me s and a me s
o he damage caused by wild animals, while
hun e s a e mo e likely o de ec he need o build
mo e eeding g ounds o ul u es.
Pe cep ion o he illegal p ac ice
o wildli e poisoning wi hin ele an
go e nmen al au ho i ies in C oa ia
A o al o 62 employees o ele an go e nmen al
ins i u ions in C oa ia we e su eyed du ing his
esea ch. The la ges sha e o esponden s a e in
lowe o middle s a us in ela ion o he o ganiza-
ional hie a chy in he ins i u ion. 17.7% o espond-
en s in hei wo k a e in di ec con ac wi h he issue
o poisoning o wild and domes ic animals, while
sligh ly less han a qua e o hem ha e been in
con ac wi h his issue a leas once in hei wo k.
Only e e y en h esponden has ecei ed a leas
one aining ela ed o he de ec ion and p ocess-
ing o wildli e poisoning cases. Coope a ion be-
ween go e nmen ins i u ions and non-go e n-
men al o ganiza ions is a ed 2.6 on a e age.
Figu e 12. Pe sonal a i udes owa ds epo ing poisoning inciden s o he ele an au ho i ies
In mos communi ies i is a “public se-
c e ” which indi iduals poison animals
Hun e s should mo e o en epo in o -
ma ion abou wildli e poisoning o he
police
People don’ know who o epo ani-
mal poisoning inciden s o
Ci izens who epo someone om hei com-
muni y o poisoning o animals isk c ea ing
con lic s in hei communi y
E e y ci izen should epo wildli e
poisoning o he police
Wildli e poisoning mos ly occu s in emo e
loca ions which is why he pe pe a o s a e
a ely iden i ied
Ve e ina ians should mo e o en epo
in o ma ion abou wildli e poisoning o
he police
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
I disag ee comple ely
I mos ly ag ee
I mos ly disag ee
I comple ely ag ee
I nei he ag ee no disag ee
49
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
When i comes o esponden s’ knowledge o
ul u es, mos esponden s answe ed all he
ques ions co ec ly. In gene al, he sha es o e-
sponden s who answe ed ques ions inco ec ly
a e s ill sligh ly lowe han hose in he su ey
o li es ock a me s, a me s and hun e s. Fo
example, hal o he esponden s in he la e
su ey belie e ha ul u es eed on cap u ed
la ge mammals, oden s and domes ic animals,
while in his su ey hese sha es a e signi ican -
ly lowe .
Responden s a e hei knowledge o poisoning
on a e age 2.6 on a scale o 1 o 5 (whe e 1 is
e y poo and 5 is excellen ). E en a highe p o-
po ion o esponden s, compa ed o hose in
he su ey o ca le b eede s, a me s and hun -
e s, answe ed hey do no know when poison-
ing mos o en occu s in he yea (33.9%). Also,
ep esen a i es o ins i u ions om he h ee
coun ies ha a e mos a ec ed by he p oblem
o poisoning bes ecognize ha i is a p oblem in
Lika-Senj Coun y, and leas ecognize his p ob-
lem in Spli -Dalma ia Coun y.
Unlike esponden s in he su ey o li es ock
a me s, a me s and hun e s, who belie e ha
wildli e poisoning mos o en occu s in en ional-
ly, he la ges sha e o esponden s in he su ey
o ep esen a i es o ins i u ions (38.7%) be-
lie e ha i happens by acciden , misuse o legal
oxic pes icides. insec icides, e c.) subs anc-
es, ou o igno ance. Responden s in a su ey
o ep esen a i es o ins i u ions es ima e ha
a me s o ca le b eede s a e mos o en e-
sponsible o poisoning, ollowed by indi iduals
who delibe a ely poison animals because hey
simply like o kill.
When esponden s a e asked o assess how
o en ce ain easons a e behind he poisoning
o wild animals, hey on a e age pu p o ec ion
agains pes s ( a s, insec s, e c.) in he i s place
in e ms o equency, second p o ec ion o pas-
u es and li es ock om wild animals, and p o-
ec ion o ag icul u al a eas om wild animals in
he hi d place. In his ega d, i can be gene ally
no ed ha he assessmen s o he main easons
a e simila o hose in he su ey o li es ock,
a me s and hun e s, wi h ep esen a i es o he
ins i u ions mo e o en answe ing “I don’ know”
and less o en answe ing ha some o hese ea-
sons ne e s and ou .
When i comes o esponden s’ a i udes abou
epo ing poisoning cases o he compe en
ins i u ions, esponden s mos ly belie e ha
poisoning should be epo ed (mo e o en) by
e e ina ians, hun e s and anyone who has
knowledge o such cases. Le us emind you ha
he esponden s om he su ey among ca le
b eede s, a me s and hun e s mos ly ag ee wi h
he same h ee s a emen s. Howe e , we see an
in e es ing di e ence in he s a emen “People
do no know o whom o epo animal poison-
ing”: a la ge sha e o esponden s in he su ey
o li es ock, a me s and hun e s disag ee wi h
his s a emen (27.4%, compa ed o 12.9% o
esponden s om he anks o ep esen a i es
ins i u ion).
Rega ding he me hods ha need o be applied
in poisoning in es iga ions, he ep esen a i es
o he ins i u ions pu oxicological analysis in
he i s place, al hough i is in e es ing ha one
hi d o he esponden s did no ecognize such
analysis as impo an . Since he lis o o e ed
answe s is based on he expe ience o Spain,
whe e all he abo e me hods a e used in in e dis-
ciplina y eams, he ac ha esponden s a ely
ecognized he ele ance o many o hese me h-
ods sugges s he need o educa ion on good
p ac ices in o he coun ies.
Rega ding he capaci ies o p ocessing poison-
ing cases, i is gene ally possible o no e ha a
la ge pa o he esponden s could no de e -
mine hemsel es acco ding o he allega ions in
he ques ions asked. Rep esen a i es o he in-
s i u ions a leas ag ee wi h he s a emen “Pub-
lic p osecu o s a e su icien ly educa ed o han-
dle cases ela ed o wildli e poisoning.” On he
o he hand, hey a e mos ly inclined o ag ee on
a e age ha hey a ely impose penal ies unde
he Hun ing Ac .
Rega ding he punishmen o a ious illegal ac s
ha ha m animals and na u e, he gene al im-
p ession is ha he esponden s who pa icipa -
ed in he su ey o ep esen a i es o ins i u ions
50
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
suppo s ic punishmen . O all he allega ions
o e ed, hey s ongly ag ee wi h “All o ms o
mass and non-disc imina o y killing o animals
( aps, poisoning, explosi es, e c.) should be
se e ely punished”, and immedia ely a e wa ds
ha mo e punishmen s a e needed o all which
o ms o poaching. Also, o e wo- hi ds o e-
sponden s ag eed wi h he s a emen ha con-
se a ionis s ( ange s) should ha e he au ho i y
o a es people who poison animals i hey a e
caugh in he ac .
Rega ding esou ces o poisoning in es iga-
ions, esponden s mos ly ag ee wi h he s a e-
men “We need mo e people in he ield (po-
lice, conse a ionis s, e c.) o be able o de ec
poisoning cases in ime”, while he leas ag ee
wi h he s a emen “The e a e enough in C o-
a ia labo a o ies ha ha e he capaci y o he
necessa y oxicological analysis”. In gene al,
a i udes abou he need o g ea e esou ces
o poisoning in es iga ions domina e, bu i is
in e es ing ha almos a i h o he esponden s
do no ecognize sea ch dogs o he de ec ion
o poisons used agains wild animals as a ele-
an esou ce.
Rega ding he capaci y o he police o in es-
iga e poisonings, he main p oblem is he
non- epo ing o poisoning cases o he police.
Bu he second s a emen acco ding o he le -
el o a e age ag eemen is “Police do no ake
se iously he need o launch in es iga ions in o
wildli e poisoning”, while esponden s leas
ag ee wi h he s a emen ha he police a e su -
icien ly equipped and educa ed o in es iga e
wildli e poisoning. We can summa ize ha he
a i udes o he esponden s sugges ha he e
is oom o be e capaci y building o he police
o wildli e poisoning in es iga ions, bu also o
aising awa eness o he impo ance o hese in-
es iga ions.
App oxima ely a qua e o esponden s a e
awa e o he ac ha in C oa ia he e is no da-
abase on animal poisoning inciden s, a na ion-
al ac ion plan o comba animal poisoning o a
p o ocol ha will de ine p ocedu es and espon-
sibili ies in in es iga ions in o wildli e poisoning.
Howe e , he answe s o he pa icipan s in he
esea ch indica e ha i is possible ha some in-
s i u ions o hei o ganiza ional uni s s ill ha e
in e nal p o ocols and a da abase o poisoning
cases.
Responden s wo king in s a e ins i u ions, as
well as hose su eyed om he g oups o li e-
s ock b eede s, a me s and hun e s, pu in he
i s place aising awa eness o wildli e poison-
ing among ci izens in gene al, ie he gene al
public. Responden s, on a e age, conside he
mos impo an wo k o aise awa eness o he
gene al public and key s akeholde s (li es ock,
a me s, hun e s, ins i u ions), ollowed by he
in oduc ion o s ic e con ol o e he impo
and ade o legal oxic subs ances. We ind i
in e es ing o poin ou ha , compa ing he a e -
age answe s o he o e ed claims, esponden s
om s a e ins i u ions gi e less p io i y o s a e
mone a y compensa ion o li es ock and a m-
e s, compa ed o esponden s om he su ey
o ca le b eede s, a me s and hun e s, who
suppo his measu e.
We also asked he in e iewed ep esen a i es
o he ins i u ions o assess how impo an
ce ain agg a a ing ci cums ances a e, which
make p e en ion and sanc ioning mo e di icul .
Responden s es ima e ha hese a e i s o all
di icul ies wi h e idence in cou , ollowed by
insu icien and unclea p o ocols o police ac-
ions and oo low penal ies o animal poisoning,
while hey pe cei e he black ma ke o p ohibi -
ed poisons o e he In e ne as he leas impo -
an p oblem.
Responden s, like hose om he su ey o
ca le b eede s, a me s and hun e s, a e p e-
dominan ly p o-en i onmen ally o ien ed, bu
wi h a sligh ly di e en emphasis. Respond-
en s om he anks o ep esen a i es o ins i-
u ions hus s ongly ejec an h opocen ism
(whose indica o is ag eemen wi h he s a e-
men “People a e des ined o ule o e he es
o na u e”) and pu he p oblem o limi ed e-
sou ces in he i s place.
51
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Conclusions
E o s in es ed du ing he las couple o yea s
owa ds assessing he scope o wildli e poison-
ing and i s e ec s on popula ions o species o
conse a ion conce n in C oa ia ha e esul ed
in he inc ease o he numbe o eco ded poi-
soning inciden s in he coun y, making i e y
e iden ha his illegal p ac ice ep esen s a
se ious conse a ion issue. The main d i e
behind he use o poison bai s in C oa ia a e
losses o li es ock due o con lic s wi h p eda-
o s, especially jackals, bu also wi h wild boa s,
which ha e been in oduced o he K a ne is-
lands o hun ing pu poses, and which in lic
signi ican damages o local shephe ds. Wild-
li e poisoning in C oa ia had he wo s e ec on
G i on Vul u es, as hese sca enge s appea
as casual ies in e e y second poisoning e en .
O e he cou se o he las 20 yea s a o al o 52
indi iduals pe ished in poisoning and p obable
poisoning e en s.
An i-poison ac i i ies implemen ed in C oa ia
by na ional CSOs esul ed in es ablishing good
coope a ion wi h ele an go e nmen al ins i u-
ions, which led o hei inc easing engagemen
in managing wildli e poisoning inciden s. This is
mos ly e iden wi h hose ins i u ions espon-
sible o conduc ing o ensic nec opsies and
oxicological analysis on p esumably poisoned
wild animals. Since 2018 oxicological analysis
ha e been conduc ed in o e 85% o po en-
ial poisoning e en s, which is unp eceden ed
compa ed o o he coun ies om he egion.
Ca bo u an is he mos equen ly used sub-
s ance o poisoning wildli e in C oa ia.
Li es ock b eede s, a me s and hun e s in C o-
a ia pe cei e ha poisoning o wild animals oc-
cu s mos ly in en ionally, and mos o en h ough
he abuse o legal oxic subs ances (pes icides,
insec icides, e c.). Indi iduals who delibe a ely
poison animals because hey simply like o kill
a e pe cei ed o be mos o en esponsible o
poisoning, ollowed by a me s, hen hun e s
and li es ock b eede s. P o ec ion o ag icul u al
land and p oduc ion is pe cei ed as he bigges
mo i e o poisoning o wild animals, ollowed by
p o ec ion o pas u es and li es ock.
Unlike people who li e in u al a eas, who be-
lie e ha wildli e poisoning mos o en occu s
in en ionally, he la ges sha e o esponden s
in he su ey o ep esen a i es o ele an
go e nmen al ins i u ions belie e ha i occu s
mos ly by acciden , due o misuse o legal oxic
(pes icides. insec icides, e c.) subs ances, ou
o igno ance. Also, hey pe cei e ha a me s
and li es ock b eede s a e mos o en espon-
sible o poisoning, ollowed by indi iduals
who delibe a ely poison animals because hey
simply like o kill. Simila o o he coun ies in
he Balkans, one o he bigges gaps in dealing
wi h po en ial poisoning inciden s in C oa ia
is he unwillingness o ci izens o epo hese
cases o he police, as well as low capaci ies o
en o cemen agencies o espond and ac i ely
in es iga e hem. Addi ional e o s a e needed
o aising awa eness abou he impo ance o
epo ing poisoning e en s and he impac o
his p ac ice on wildli e and human heal h, as
well as o p o iding speci ic aining o in es i-
ga ion o poisoning inciden s o he ele an law
en o cemen ins i u ions in he coun y.
52
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
GREECE
In oduc ion
The use o poison bai s as a me hod o popu-
la ion con ol o p eda o s (mainly mammals
such as oxes o wol es, bu occasionally also
bi ds, insec s, e c.) has been illegal in G eece
since 1993. Howe e , in he ollowing yea s a -
e i s banning, delibe a e poisoning o he same
pu pose con inued illegally in mos egions
whe e con lic wi h p eda o s we e s ill p esen .
Mo eo e , poison was used no only o kill wild
animals bu also dogs ( e al, s ay, shephe d,
hun ing dogs). The use o poison bai s is s ill a
deeply oo ed p ac ice in u al a eas o G eece
and na ional popula ions o ul u es, ap o s and
mammalian p eda o s con inue o be se iously
a ec ed by he pe pe ua ion o his p ac ice. This
p ac ice is well documen ed, and he CSOs om
G eece ha e been e y igilan in documen ing
and moni o ing poisoning inciden s.
Con lic s wi h wildli e, which o en esul in dam-
ages o c ops, li es ock and game animals a e
he mos common d i e s behind he use o poi-
son bai s in he en i onmen . Howe e , a e y
signi ican d i e o poison use a e also human
con lic s among di e en s akeholde g oups.
Fa me s, li es ock b eede s and hun e s usually
s and accoun able o hese human-wildli e and
human-human con lic s and he use o poison
bai s ha usually ollows. Al hough ag icul u -
al and s ockb eeding coope a i es and hun -
ing clubs a e o mally agains he use o poison
bai s, he p ac ice is s ill widesp ead among
hese g oups. The ex ensi e use o poison bai s
in G eece was he main eason o popula ion
declines o all ul u e species in he coun y and
is cu en ly he bigges es ic i e ac o o hei
eco e y, especially in mainland G eece.
The absence o a clea -cu and comp ehensi e
legal amewo k add essing he illegal use o
poison bai s g ea ly hinde s he esolu ion o he
p oblem, al hough a s ep in he igh di ec ion
was ini ially made in 2018 wi h he endo semen
o a Minis e ial Decision on Local Ac ion Plans
agains wildli e poisoning. Fu he p og ess is
expec ed in 2022 once i becomes a Join MD,
in ol ing o he ele an au ho i ies and law en-
o cemen agencies.
His o ical pe spec i e
The use o poison bai s was a common p ac ice
in G eece since he beginning o he 20 h cen u-
y. Since 1939 he use o S ychnine o cull ox-
es and o he wild species ega ded as “ e min”
was egula ed wi h annual ci cula s published
by he Minis y o Ag icul u e. As om 1969 and
un il 1981, he Fo es y Se ices o e saw he
culling o wild animals and sys ema ically used
bai s made o s ychnine ha we e placed du -
ing he nigh and collec ed in he mo ning. A e
his, s ychnine was subs i u ed wi h Po assium
cyanide, in o de o a oid seconda y poisoning,
which had al eady been obse ed o ha e se-
e ely a ec ed popula ions o a ian sca enge s,
ap o s and o he species ha o en sca enge.
Li e a u e eco ds o ins ance s a e ha 75 jack-
als we e killed in Oc obe 1931 in Samos, while
5108 wol es and jackals we e culled in he whole
coun y be ween 1933-1939 (mos o hem be-
lie ed o be killed wi h he use o poison bai s).
Acco ding o he Minis y o Ag icul u e, du ing
he pe iod 1971-1979, 700-800 wol es we e
culled each yea , while he numbe s o oxes
anged om 40.000 o 74.000 indi iduals pe
yea om 1974-1981.
53
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Following he p essu es exe ed by na ional en-
i onmen al associa ions and Na u e p o ec ion
policies de ended in he Eu opean Union, he use
o poison bai s was inally comple ely banned in
G eece in 1993. Howe e , people in u al a eas
we e so accus omed wi h he p ac ice ha despi e
i s p ohibi ion, and owing o he lack o law en o ce-
men , he use o poison bai s endu ed as a adi-
ional p ac ice o esol ing con lic s wi h wildli e
and con inues o ake i s oll on hei popula ions.
The su i al o many p o ec ed species has been
di ec ly h ea ened by he use o poison bai s.
Many a ian sca enge s wen ex inc in di e en a -
eas o G eece o declined signi ican ly in numbe s
due o his p ac ice. The Bea ded Vul u e wen ex-
inc om con inen al G eece a he u n o he 21s
cen u y, when he las indi idual on he con inen al
pa o he Balkan Peninsula, in he moun ains o
Almopia in he G eece-No h Macedonia bo de
a ea, disappea ed in 2004. Cu en ly he only pop-
ula ion o his species in he whole Balkan Penin-
sula can be ound on he island o C e e, whe e
6-7 b eeding pai s s ill endu e (Xi ouchakis 2019).
The Cine eous Vul u e was ela i ely widesp ead
in G eece. Following a se e e popula ion decline
da ing since he 1950s, he species became es-
iden only o he Dadia-Le kimi-Sou li Fo es Na-
ional Pa k (Xi ouchakis & Tsiaki is 2009; Ska si
e al. 2010). A second b eeding g oup o Cine e-
ous Vul u es ha was disco e ed in he moun ain
Olympos in he 1980s collapsed in 1989 due o
seconda y poisoning (Tucke and Hea h 1994).
The Egyp ian Vul u e used o be e y common
and widesp ead, b eeding ac oss all con inen al
G eece and on many islands (Hand inos & Ak i-
o is 1997). By he beginning o he 20 h cen u y
hough, numbe s had s a ed o dec ease, and
al hough s ill conside ed common, in he 1980
he species had disappea ed om all islands and
sou he n G eece. In 2021 he popula ion is e-
duced o only 6 e i o ies, o 4-5 b eeding pai s
and one soli a y indi idual (Egyp ian Vul u e New
Li e p ojec LIFE16 NAT/BG/000874). The spe-
cies main h ea , pa icula ly in he p esen ime,
is he illegal use o poison bai s. The popula ion o
he G i on Vul u e in mainland G eece, once wide-
sp ead in all mainland massi s and semi- moun-
ainous a eas in G eece, has c ashed, mos ly be-
cause o he poison bai s, and has been educed
o 29-37 b eeding pai s, o 165 – 240 indi iduals in
o al (Xi ouchakis 2019).
Cu en si ua ion in he coun y
Na ional na u e conse a ion o ganiza ions in
G eece ha e in es ed signi ican e o s owa ds
comba ing he illegal p ac ice o wildli e poisoning.
Illegal poisoning o wildli e in G eece is e y com-
mon and has o ced se e al species o he b ink
o ex inc ion. These ci cums ances condi ioned
he c ea ion o he An i-Poison Task Fo ce, which
was o med in 2012 and consis s o en i onmen-
al CSOs (ARCTUROS, Hellenic Socie y o he
P o ec ion o Na u e, Hellenic O ni hological So-
cie y (HOS), Callis o, WWF G eece and Hellenic
Wildli e Ca e Associa ion ANIMA) and he Na u-
al His o y Museum o C e e. Since 2014, unde
he amewo k o LIFE+ p ojec “The Re u n o
he Neoph on” (LIFE10 NAT/BG/000152), HOS
is coo dina ing he Task Fo ce and managing he
Poison Inciden s Da abase. The main objec i e o
he Task Fo ce is o p omo e p oposals and ins i u-
ional changes o e adica e he killing o wildli e by
poison bai s and o make known he ex en o his
conse a ion p oblem a local and na ional le el.
The con inuous e o s o he Task Fo ce membe s
o collec as much in o ma ion as possible is sup-
po ing he u he de elopmen o he da abase
and p o ides a be e pe cep ion o his p ac ice’s
cha ac e is ics, as well as i s unde lying easons.
A egula ly upda ed da abase ep esen s an ex-
emely aluable ool o comba ing wildli e poison-
ing and can lead o he iden i ica ion o ho spo s
o poisoning and consequen ly o a be e p io i i-
za ion and mo e e icien u iliza ion o he ele an
au ho i ies’ al eady limi ed esou ces. Un il now,
poisoning inciden da a collec ion is ca ied ou
mainly by he membe s o he Task Fo ce and sec-
ondly by he public au ho i ies. Unde he scope
o he “Re u n o he Neoph on” LIFE p ojec , he
An i-Poison Task Fo ce p oduced a e y de ailed
echnical epo on he illegal use o poison bai s in
G eece (N emi i & Sa a ia 2016). This documen
p o ides insigh in o he cu en si ua ion wi h use
o poison bai s in he coun y. Signi ican amoun
o in o ma ion a ailable om his epo , as well
di ec ly om he PID was in eg a ed in his s udy.
54
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
F om he yea 2000 o 2020 a o al o 581 poi-
soning and p esumably poisoning inciden s ha e
been eco ded in G eece which esul ed in mo al-
i y o wildli e and domes ic animals, mos no ably
dogs. E e y poisoning and po en ial poisoning in-
ciden whe e a leas one indi idual o a wild spe-
cies was ound dead was conside ed as a wildli e
poisoning inciden . Addi ional 346 inciden s ha e
been eco ded du ing his pe iod whe e only do-
mes ic animals we e casual ies o poisoning and
we e he e o e no analyzed in de ail o he pu -
pose o his s udy.
Al hough he mo i es behind he g ea majo i y o
wildli e poisoning inciden s emain unknown, ac-
co ding o he da a compiled om mo e success-
ully in es iga ed cases mos common d i e s
behind he use o poison bai s a e con lic s wi h
mammalian p eda o s which in lic damages o
li es ock (33 poisoning e en s) and o popula ions
o game animals in hun ing a eas, which was he
mo i e behind 26 poisoning e en s ha occu ed
wi hin his pe iod (Figu e 13).
Fo ensic oxicological analysis has been ca ied
ou o 58 (9,9%) po en ial wildli e poisoning inci-
den s. The low numbe o oxicological analyses
is mainly due o he ollowing easons: specimens
we e in ad anced s a e o decay and di icul o
conduc ing oxicological analysis; ci ilians who
epo ed poisoning inciden s a e unwilling o p o-
ceed wi h o icial complain s o ha e al eady bu -
ied o des oyed he specimens and as a esul , no
samples could be aken o oxicological analyses;
In some cases, he e e en se ices due o lack o
ope a ional capaci ies and unds we e unable o
unwilling o handle poisoned animals and ake o
send samples o analysis (di icul y in inding he
culp i /ex a bu eauc acy). The p ocedu e o con-
duc ion o oxicological analyses is also hinde ed
by he ac ha o da e he e is no clea legisla i e
amewo k o de ine he compe en se ices, as
well as lack o ope a ional capaci ies, o he p ope
handling o animal poisoning inciden s (animal e-
mo al, ex ac ion o samples and deli e y o spe-
cialized labs o analyses, ope a ional capaci ies o
e e en oxicological labo a o ies).
Figu e 13. Mo i es behind wildli e poisoning in G eece
unknown
damages o beehi es
damages o c ops
damages o li es ock
con lic s wi h hun ing dogs
84%
1%
1%
0%
0%
5%
5% 2% 2%
human con linc s
con lic s wi h shephe d dogs
losses in hun ing
con lic s wi h s ay dogs
55
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Acco ding o he a ailable da a, a o al o 14 ox-
ic compounds we e used o se ing up poison
bai s in G eece du ing his ime pe iod, and hese
a e Ca bo u an, Po assium cyanide, Me homyl,
Me hamidophos, Fen hion, Sulphu , Me hyl-Pa -
a hion, Endosul an, Cyp oconazole, Me ibuzin,
Pho a e, Chlo py i os, Hep achlo and End in
aldehyde. The mos widesp ead ype o poison
bai s in G eece is he use o a piece o mea , o -
en a li e o a sausage, laced wi h an app o ed
o illegal pes icide. Fo la ge ca ni o es, like he
wol , whole ca casses o li es ock laced wi h poi-
son a e commonly ound o be used. The esul s
o he conduc ed oxicological analyses showed
ha phy osani a y p oduc s om he g oup Ca -
bama es a e mos equen ly used o wildli e poi-
soning. These include app o ed and legally a ail-
able p oduc s bu also p oduc s banned a na-
ional, Eu opean o in e na ional le el. The mos
equen ly used subs ances o wildli e poisoning,
iden i ied du ing he in es iga ion o poisoning
e en s, was Me homyl, egis e ed in 20 poisoning
e en s. The use o Me homyl in powde o m was
banned in G eece in 2008 bu i s use was eap-
p o ed in liquid o m in ea ly 2013. Ano he com-
monly used Ca bama e o p epa ing poison bai s
is Ca bo u an, which was egis e ed in 10 poison-
ing inciden s. Ca bo u an was banned in G eece
since 2008 bu is s ill egula ly used o wildli e
poisoning.
Po assium cyanide, egis e ed in 16 poisoning
e en s, is he second mos used oxic subs ance
(Figu e 14). Poison bai s wi h Cyanide a e e-
quen ly ound as a capsule co e ed wi h wax.
This ype is di e en o he o he s in ha i doesn’
cause seconda y poisoning, meaning an animal
eeding on a poisoned animal will no be poisoned
i sel . Cyanides a e ex emely oxic and when he
capsule b eaks, hey can cause ins an dea h
hough inhala ion, diges ion, o skin con ac .
Apa om Me amidophos, which was egis e ed
in 5 poisoning e en s, all o he oxic subs anc-
es we e egis e ed in single poisoning inciden s.
This insec icide has no been app o ed o use in
Figu e 14. Regis e ed oxic compounds used o wildli e poisoning in G eece om 2000-2020
Ca bo u an
Po assium cyanide
Me homyl
Me hamidophos
Me hyl-Pa a hion
Me ibuzin
Hep achlo
Fen hion
Endosul an
Pho a e
End in aldehyde
Sulphu
Cyp oconazole
Chlo py i os
33%
8%
1%
1%
1%
2%
2%
2%
2% 2%2% 2%
26%
16%
56
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
he EU since 2008.
Poisoning in G eece du ing he pe iod om 2000-
2020 caused he mo ali y o 29 species o wild
animals. Acco ding o he a ailable da a, his
p ac ice had he wo s e ec s on he g oup o ul-
u es, p ima ily G i on Vul u es, causing he dea h
o 213 indi iduals wi hin 169 sepa a e poisoning
and p obable poisoning inciden s, and o he a i-
an sca enge s, such as he Common Buzza d,
which was eco ded in 94 inciden s wi h 109 indi-
iduals ound poisoned o p esumably poisoned.
Addi ionally, a o al o 22 Cine eous Vul u es we e
ound dead wi hin 16 sepa a e inciden s, and 19
Egyp ian Vul u es wi hin 12 poisoning and p ob-
able poisoning inciden s. The single mos nume -
ous species ha was eco ded in poisoning inci-
den s in G eece was he Red Fox, su e ing 348
casual ies wi hin 110 sepa a e e en s (Figu e 15).
O he eco ded casual ies include Bea ded Vul-
u e, Golden Eagle, Sho - oed Eagle, Ma sh Ha -
ie , Honey Buzza d, Common Kes el, Pe eg ine
Falcon, Sake Falcon, Eleono a’s Falcon, Long-
ea ed Owl, Eagle Owl, Ba n Owl, Scops Owl,
Dalma ian Pelican, Magpie, Beech ma en, Pine
ma en, Eu opean badge , Eu opean hedgehog,
B own bea , Golden jackal, Wol , Wildca and Wild
boa .
Poison bai s a e o en placed by indi idual hun -
e s o he con ol o he ox popula ion. The ox
is conside ed o be he main ac o limi ing ha e
popula ions, a p ized game species, and i is also
poisoned o acili a e hun ing dogs o ain and
chase ha es, as hey may chase oxes ins ead o
he desi ed qua y. Apa om hun e s, a me s
may also place poison bai s i bea s, wild boa s
o e en smalle mammals, like badge s and ma -
ens, in lic damage o hei c ops.
A ailable da a indica es ha he use o poison
bai s in G eece is s ill a common p ac ice, show-
ing no signs o signi ican dec ease in occu ence
du ing he pas 20 yea s. The An i-poison Task
Fo ce in G eece has been igilan in eco ding
and ac i ely sea ching po en ial poisoning e en s
in he coun yside and in sys ema ically s o ing
he da a in he Poison Inciden Da abase.
Figu e 15. Common ic ims o poisoning in G eece (2000-2020)
0
50
200
100
250
350
150
300
400
G i on
Vul u e
Egyp ian
Vul u e
Common
Buzza d
Pine
Ma en
Ba n
Owl
Beech
Ma en
Eu opean
Badge
B own
Bea
Eu opean
Hedgehog
Cine e-
ous
Vul u e
Wol Red
Fox
Inciden s Casual ies
57
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
The an i-poison e o s in G eece we e signi ican -
ly ein o ced wi h he es ablishmen o wo Canine
Teams (An i-poison dog uni s) in 2014 which
g ea ly acili a ed hei wo k in comba ing wildli e
poisoning. Apa om being a p e en i e means,
he Canine Teams con ibu e o he dissemina-
ion and inc ease o awa eness ega ding his
conse a ion p oblem, and hey also assis he
compe en au ho i ies in hei p e- ial wo k, col-
lec ing indings ha can be used as e idence du -
ing he in es iga ion and he judicial p ocedu e.
Fo example, F om Ma ch 2014 ill May 2021 he
wo eams ca ied ou 440 pa ols, co e ing 1057
km and de ec ing 212 poisoned animals and 227
poison bai s in 102 poisoning inciden s. Du ing
he wo yea s ha he Canine Teams we e ac i e
(2014-2015), 28% o he o al poisoning e en s
eco ded in he da abase we e de ec ed hanks o
he use o he Teams, p o ing jus how e ec i e
hese uni s can be and unde lining he impo ance
o ha ing such a ool in he igh agains poison.
I is impo an o highligh ha he Minis y o En-
i onmen has acknowledged he use ulness o
his eams and will s a ope a ing se en o hem
ac oss G eece in 2022.
The sudden decline in eco ded po en ial poison-
ing e en s in 2020 may be a ibu ed o a gene al
educ ion o ac i i ies in he ield om many ele-
an s akeholde s due o he ou b eak o he Co -
id19 pandemic, bu his can only be alida ed wi h
new da a in he yea s o come.
The use o poison bai s o ex i pa ion o undesi -
able domes ic animals ou side o se lemen s is a
common p ac ice on G eece. A o al o 346 poi-
soning and po en ial poisoning e en s ha e been
eco ded du ing he pe iod 2000-2020 in G eece
whe e he casual ies we e only domes ic animals
(Figu e 16). In his case, his p ac ice equen ly
aims o educe he p esence o abandoned hun -
ing, shephe d, o pe dogs. Howe e , signi ican
and equen mo i es o using poison bai s a e
also human con lic s, namely local dispu es, and
land use con lic s. These con lic s mos o en e-
sul in in en ional use o poison bai s, a ge ing
speci ically shephe d and hun ing dogs. Poison-
ing has been con i med in 39 e en s (9,35%) ha
cause mo ali y o domes ic animals. The mos
commonly used oxic compounds o hese poi-
soning e en s by a is Me homyl, which is espon-
sible o 66,67% o con i med poisoning inciden s
wi h domes ic animals. O he compounds ha
ha e been iden i ied du ing oxicological analysis
include Ca bo u an (6 poisoning inciden s), Po-
assium cyanide (4 poisoning inciden s), Endo-
sul an (2 poisoning inciden s), Me hamidophos,
egis e ed in only 1 poisoning inciden .
Figu e 16. Numbe o poisoning e en s in G eece wi hin he esea ch pe iod
0
2000
2006
2014
2003
2009
2017
2001
2007
2015
2004
2012
2010
2018
2002
2008
2016
2005
2013
2011
2019
2020
50
10
60
20
70
30
80
40
90
Numbe o wildli e poisoning inciden s Numbe o poisoning inciden s wi h domes ic animals
64
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
s i u ions in G eece conside ha o achie ing
success in in es iga ion o wildli e poisoning in-
ciden s, i is necessa y o in oduce he ollowing
measu es: canine uni s, oxicological analysis,
inge p in analysis, and using he eco ds o sale
o legal poisoning subs ances.
When i comes o p e en i e measu es - mo e
supplemen a y eeding si es o ul u es, ee
shephe d and gua d dogs, esol ing p oblems
ela ed o pas u e owne ship and imp o ed p o-
ec ion o wild ungula e popula ion a e also ec-
ognized as impo an measu es ha could lead o
be e p o ec ion o wildli e species and p e en ion
o poisoning.
Employees om ele an ins i u ions in G eece
sha e a common belie ha plan s, and animals
ha e an equal igh o exis jus like humans, and
hey ecognize he agili y o he na u al balance.
In addi ion o his, he p e ailing belie among hem
is ha he Ea h has limi ed space and esou ces.
The majo i y o hem do no belie e ha humans
a e des ined o domina e o e he es o na u e.
Conclusions
Wildli e poisoning in G eece is a e y common
p ac ice, one which has de as a ing e ec s on
many wild species, p ima ily hose ha eso
o sca enging as a sou ce o ood. Vul u es a e
he g oup o species which a e a ec ed he mos
by he illegal use o poison bai s, appea ing as
casual ies in e e y hi d wildli e poisoning e en
in he coun y. G i on Vul u e is he mos com-
mon species o ul u es, and wildli e in gene al,
o ge poisoned in G eece. The p ac ice o se -
ing poison bai s has caused mo ali y o 213
indi iduals o e he cou se o he las 20 yea s
and has c ippled he popula ion inhabi ing main-
land G eece o he poin o ex inc ion. Wildli e
poisoning con inues o be he mos signi ican
h ea o ul u es inhabi ing mainland G eece,
and also poses a h ea o popula ions o neigh-
bo ing coun ies, as bi ds om Bulga ia, C oa-
ia and Se bia ha e also been ound poisoned
he e. CSOs in G eece ha e been e y diligen in
eco ding all po en ial poisoning e en s in hei
na ional da abase and making i publicly a aila-
ble o all in e es ed pa ies. F om he da a used
o he pu pose o his s udy i is e iden ha he
mos impo an d i e s o he use o poison bai s
a e damages which mammalian p eda o s in lic
on li es ock and game animals in hun ing a eas
as well as con lic s be ween di e en land use s
g oups.
Conduc ion o oxicological analysis is a big gap
in he o e all managemen o poisoning e en s,
as he e is only one e e en na ional labo a o y
in he coun y (A hens Ve e ina y Cen e), ope -
a ing wi h only one s a membe esponsible o
conduc ing o ensic oxicological analysis. On
he o he hand, hese analyses ha e con i med
ha nume ous oxic compounds ha e been used
o p epa a ion o poison bai s, unlike in o he
coun ies whe e only 2-3 subs ances a e usual-
ly used o poisoning. The mos commonly used
compounds a e Ca bama es (52%), p ima ily
Me homyl, ollowed by Po assium cyanide. Ad-
di ionally, he di e si y o bai s used o poison-
ing in G eece, o en p epa ed o a ge speci ic
species, sugges ha he p ac ice o wildli e poi-
soning is s ill a deeply oo ed one and commonly
p ac iced.
Acco ding o he esul s om he in e iews ca -
ied ou , wildli e poisoning is pe cei ed as a key
h ea o ul u e popula ions in G eece by people
om u al a eas. They pe cei e ha ul u es a e
killed mos ly acciden ly om ea ing poisoned an-
imals o om inges ing poison bai s in ended o
o he animals. Li es ock b eede s and hun e s
as pe cei ed as g oups mos ly esponsible o
wildli e poisoning. Same pe cep ion abou he
e ec s o wildli e poisoning on ul u es, d i e s
and esponsible g oups o poisoning ha e em-
ployees o ele an go e nmen al ins i u ions.
Li es ock b eede s a e singled ou as he mos
impo an a ge g oup o awa eness aising ac-
ions. Addi ionally, law en o cemen agencies
in G eece a e pe cei ed o ha ing insu icien
capaci ies, as well as engagemen , o in es i-
ga ing poisoning inciden s. The e o e, speci ic
aining owa ds hese s akeholde s would be
c ucial o building up capaci ies and achie ing
be e esul s in he in es iga ion o his p ac ice.
65
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
NORTH MACEDONIA
In oduc ion
Ea lies eco ds o wildli e poisoning om No h
Macedonia ela e o o ganized poisoning cam-
paigns p ima ily agains wol popula ions. The
use o poison bai s s a ed o ake hei oll among
ul u es and o he sca enge species in he coun-
y since 1947. Al hough he use o poison bai s
o p eda o con ol was banned in 1985, he p ac-
ice is deeply oo ed, especially in u al a eas.
Poison bai s con inued o be used by li es ock
b eede s and a e usually placed a e wol packs
in lic majo damages o li es ock. Poisoning o
s ay dogs is also common in and a ound mos o
he u al and u ban se lemen s, and some o hei
ca casses a e occasionally a ailable o ul u es
on he se lemen s dumping si es.
As a esul o he p ac ice o poison use, which
is mos equen in he pe iod be ween Feb ua y
and Ap il, an es ima ed numbe o 1000-3000
G i on Vul u es ha e been poisoned since 1947
ill oday. Poison use is likely one o he unde lying
causes o ex inc ion o he Bea ded and Cine-
eous Vul u es om No h Macedonia. Al hough
bo h species las b ed in he coun y in he 1980s,
he las indi iduals o hese species emaining in
he coun y in 2002 we e los in 2005–2006. In
he same pe iod, he popula ions o bo h G i on
and Egyp ian Vul u e declined s ongly mainly
because o he illegal use o poison bai s o he
con ol o p eda o s and e al dogs, bu also as a
esul o ood sho age, habi a loss and dis u -
bance, which may lead o hei ex inc ion as well
(Vele ski e al. 2013; G ubač 2014).
His o ical pe spec i e
The e ec s o he p ac ice o using poison bai s
in he en i onmen on wildli e is well documen ed
in No h Macedonia, especially on sca enge s
such as ul u es, which a e mos ly a ec ed by
his p ac ice. The i s eco ded poisoning e en
wi h G i on Vul u es in No h Macedonia is om
Sha Planina Moun ain, whe e hund eds o bi ds
we e poisoned in he pe iod 1947-1954 (mos ly
on he e i o y o Koso o, Naumo 1981). Since
hen, such p ac ice has been o en documen ed
in No h Macedonia, and G ubač (2000) men-
ions poisoning o abou 100 ul u es and o he
a ian sca enge s a ound P ilep in 1979. Reasons
o he use o poison in he pas we e almos ex-
clusi ely ela ed o go e nmen ally sponso ed
na ion-wide poisoning ac ions agains wol es
and o he mammalian p eda o s.
Apa om his, i is e y impo an o no e ha a
single case o misuse o oden icides o pes con-
ol is esponsible o he loss o an en i e p e-mi-
g a o y lock (60-70 indi iduals) o Egyp ian
Vul u es in 1992, which p ac ically c ippled he
popula ion ha con inued o decline since. This
inciden highligh s he h ea ha imp ope use
o such, and simila oxic compounds can ha e
on sca enge s and o he wildli e, and he impo -
ance o en o cing be e con ol o he applica ion
o pes icides and oden icides in ag icul u e. O h-
e mo i es o poison use iden i ied in he pas in-
clude in en ional use o poison bai s, o elimina e
e al and s ay dogs om local communi ies, use
o poison (insec icides) o educe damages o
beekeepe s - mainly a ge ed a ma ins, and in-
en ional use o poison o esol e human-human
con lic s be ween neighbo s.
E en hough he use o poison and poison bai s
has been p ohibi ed in 1985 wi h he change in
na ional legisla ion, he p ac ice s ill endu ed as
an a o dable and e ec i e me hod o elimina ion
o undesi able animals and wildli e in bo h u al
and u ban a eas, especially a e di e en pes i-
cides become eadily a ailable on he ma ke in
high concen a ions o low p ices. By hen, he
66
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Cine eous and Bea ded Vul u e became ex inc
as b eeding species in he coun y and only indi-
idual ag an bi ds we e occasionally eco ded.
A single pai o Bea ded Vul u es endu ed in he
coun y un il 1985 when he soli a y emale died
om poisoning, and wi h he he species p ac i-
cally became ex inc om he Balkan Peninsula
(excep he island popula ion on C e e).
Cu en si ua ion in he coun y
The p ac ice o wildli e poisoning in No h Mace-
donia has been gene ally well documen ed since
he beginning o he 21s cen u y onwa ds. Rele-
an go e nmen al ins i u ions keep eco ds o all
wildli e poisoning cases ha we e in es iga ed
and p osecu ed, while na ional non-go e nmen-
al na u e conse a ion o ganiza ions, such as
Macedonian Ecological Socie y (MES), emain
igilan in documen ing all poisoning and p e-
sumably poisoning e en s ha occu and mo al-
i y induced by i . Mos a ailable eco ds ela e o
poisoning e en s ha cause mo ali y o ul u es,
eagles and simila emblema ic species which a e
o a highe conse a ion conce n. Gene ally, inci-
den s wi h hese species a e mo e o en epo -
ed o he au ho i ies by ci izens, and he e o e i
is e y likely ha mo ali y o o he species goes
un eco ded.
Du ing he pe iod o 2000-2020 a o al o 29 poi-
soning and p esumable poisoning e en s we e
documen ed in No h Macedonia. Al hough he
mo i es behind mos poisoning e en s emain
unknown, he mos common d i e s behind he
use o poison bai s iden i ied wi hin his pe iod
we e con lic s wi h p eda o s in u al a eas, p e-
dominan ly wol es and jackals (Figu e 19). These
con lic s a e esponsible o 31% o all poisoning
e en s documen ed. O he d i e s o poison use
iden i ied include con lic s wi h s ay dogs.
Fo ensic oxicological analysis has been con-
duc ed in only 2 e en s and emains he bigges
gap in conduc ing p ope in es iga ion o poison-
ing inciden s in No h Macedonia. In bo h cases
Me homyl was iden i ied as he subs ance used
o poisoning. Rele an na ional labo a o ies a e
lacking ope a ional capaci ies and equipmen o
conduc analysis o samples om wild animals
and his issue should ep esen one o he p io i-
ies in u u e ac ions conce ning comba ing wild-
li e poisoning in he coun y.
Figu e 19. Mo i es behind wildli e poisoning in No h Macedonia
31%
3%
66%
Con lic s wi h p eda o s
Con lic wi h s ay dogs
unknown
67
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Map 7. Dis ibu ion o poisoning e en s by egions in No h Macedonia du ing 2000-2020.
A o al o 6 species o wild animals ha e been ound
poisoned o p esumably poisoned du ing he pe i-
od om 2000-2020 in No h Macedonia. Acco d-
ing o he a ailable da a, he mos common ic ims
by a we e G i on Vul u es, wi h mo ali y eco d-
ed in 75,8% poisoning and p esumably poisoning
inciden s. A o al o 102-125 indi iduals we e ound
poisoned and p esumably poisoned wi hin 22 sep-
a a e e en s. The G i on Vul u e b eeding popula-
ion eached i s lowes numbe in 2006 (12 b eed-
ing pai s), ollowed by a sligh eco e y bu has all-
en again, numbe ing up o 14 pai s in 2019. Se e al
e en s o mass poisoning o G i on Vul u es ha e
been eco ded du ing his pe iod. In 2001 12 indi-
iduals we e ound dead in Ma io o, 14 indi iduals
in 2003 in S . Nikole, 7-15 indi iduals he same
yea in Demi kapija, and 5-7 indi iduals in Ma io o
in 2014. The second mos nume ous ic im o poi-
soning e en s in No h Macedonia is he Egyp ian
Vul u e (4 indi iduals in 2 sepa a e inciden s), ol-
lowed by Impe ial Eagle (3 indi iduals in 2 sepa a e
inciden s). O he species a ec ed by his p ac ice
include Golden Eagle, Common Buzza d, Golden
Jackal and Hooded C ow.
Single case o poisoning
2-5 cases o poisoning
5-10 cases o poisoning
10-25 cases o poisoning
25-50 cases o poisoning
50+ cases o poisoning
68
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Based on he a ailable da a abou wildli e poison-
ing, he use o poison and poison bai s in he ecen
pe iod seems une enly dis ibu ed, being mo e e-
quen in he egions o Ma io o, Tik es, O ce Pole
and likely Placko ica M . These a eas a e one o
he mos impo an ag icul u al a eas in he coun-
y, which could be he eason o mo e equen
con lic s wi h a ious wildli e, especially p eda o s.
The e is some o e lap and unce ain ies wi h ju is-
dic ion be ween legal bodies ega ding p e en ion,
con ol, and in es iga ion o illegal poisoning. Fi s ly,
he p ope p ocedu e o epo ing wildli e poisoning
inciden s is unclea , mainly which ins i u ion needs
o be con ac ed i s . The e o e, mo e e icien ,
clea -cu legal p o ocols o desc ibing esponsibil-
i ies in epo ing, in es iga ing and p ocessing cas-
es o wildli e poisoning need o be de eloped and
dis ibu ed wi hin all esponsible ins i u ions o p e-
cisely de ine ju isdic ion o each one wi hin na ional
legisla ion and a oid o e laps. Also, communica-
ion and in o ma ion exchange be ween esponsi-
ble ins i u ions and sec o s ela ed o ju isdic ion,
esponsibili ies need o be enhanced. Apa om
his, clea -cu p o ocols and S anda d Ope a ional
P ocedu es ela ed o du ies and esponsibili ies o
exis ing go e nmen al labo a o ies abou p ocess-
ing poisoned animals, as well as acc edi ed p o o-
cols and secu i y measu es in sampling a e lacking
and need o be de eloped o acili a e hei wo k.
Acco ding o he da a ha we we e able o ob-
ain om he S a e En i onmen al Inspec o a e
and S a e Hun ing Inspec o a e, c iminal cha ges
agains unknown pe pe a o s we e b ough up in
wo wildli e poisoning cases, in 2007 when 19 G i -
on Vul u es we e ound mos likely poisoned in he
a ea o Ma io o, and in Ap il 2011, when 2 Egyp-
ian Vul u es, 1 Common Buzza d. 1 Ra en, and 2
dogs we e ound poisoned. No cou ulings we e
made in ei he case.
Legal amewo k
The Republic o No h Macedonia o e all has good
legisla ion in place ela ed o he use o poison sub-
s ances in he na u al en i onmen , whe e wildli e
poisoning is clea ly de ined as an illegal ac i i y,
punishable unde C iminal law.
Exis ing na ional legisla ion ele an o wildli e
poisoning in No h Macedonia:
• Hun ing law: A icle 54. s a es ha hun -
ing is p ohibi ed by any means which can
lead o massi e losses o popula ions o
game animals, including he use o poison-
ous subs ances.
• Law on na u e p o ec ion: A icle 43. p o-
hibi s he use o non-selec i e means o
cap u ing and shoo ing o wild species, as
well as use o subs ances ha may cause
local exhaus ion o se ious dis u bance o
he popula ions o hose species, in acco -
dance wi h he in e na ional ag eemen s
a i ied by he Republic o No h Macedo-
nia, and in pa icula : poison and anquil-
izing subs ances and poison and anquil-
izing bai s.
• Law on plan p o ec ion p oduc s: Al-
hough his law does no pa icula e e o
wildli e poisoning, i is ele an because i
desc ibes he legal use and applica ion
o oxic subs ances in ag icul u e. Inade-
qua e use and applica ion o hese phy-
osani a y p oduc s a e o en a sou ce o
unin en ional poisoning o a ious wildli e.
• C iminal law: A icle 230. e e s o pe -
sons who s o e, disin eg a e, o keep haz-
a dous was e ha has ai s o explosi e-
ness, eac i i y, in lammabili y, ex a a-
gance, oxici y, in ec i i y, ca cinogenici y,
mu agenici y, e a ogenici y, eco oxici y o
oxici y elease p ope y h ough chemical
eac ions and biological ep oduc ion. Un-
de he C iminal law hey a e liable o be
penalized by p ison sen ence om one o
i e yea s.
Rele an in e na ional ea ies and con en-
ions ha No h Macedonia is pa ies o:
Con en ion on he Conse a ion o Eu opean
Wildli e and Na u al Habi a s (Be n, 1979): Ra -
i ied wi h he Law on Ra i ica ion (“O icial Gaze e
o he Republic o No h Macedonia no. 49/97) and
en e ed in o o ce in 1999. I p ohibi s he use o
any non-selec i e means o cap u e o killing as
well as o means ha may induce local ex inc ion
o hea ily dis u b he popula ions o a species,
69
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
namely means lis ed in Annex IV”, while in Annex
IV o he same Law, which is en i led “P ohibi ed
means and me hods o hun ing and o he o ms o
exploi a ion”, “Poisons and poison o anquilizing
bai s” a e included.
Pe cep ion o he illegal p ac ice
o wildli e poisoning in local
communi ies in No h Macedonia
Su eys in No h Macedonia we e ca ied ou in
communi ies o Ma io o and Vi hace o, which
ha e a popula ion o 550 inhabi an s. The sample
included 31 esponden s in o al, mos o which
(52%) a e li es ock b eede s and a me s. Re-
sponden s om local communi ies a e ela i ely
knowledgeable abou he ul u es ha inhabi hei
coun y, bu wi h a signi ican numbe o hem a e
undecided o do no ha e in o ma ion abou ul-
u es and ac o s ha h ea en hei popula ions in
No h Macedonia.
Wildli e poisoning s ands ou as he mos impo an
ac o endange ing he ul u e popula ion in No h
Macedonia (71%). Poison bai s in ended speci i-
cally o ul u es a e in he second place among he
key easons ha lead o he signi ican dec ease o
he popula ion o hese species (23%), while he
i s a e also poison bai s, bu in ended o o he
animals (42%).
The esul s o he esea ch imply ha people om
local communi ies in No h Macedonia a e awa e
o he impo ance ha ul u e species ha e o he
en i e ecosys em, bu also o human ac i i ies,
and hey belie e i ul u es we e le alone, wi hou
in e e ing, hei numbe s would inc ease (75% o
80% o esponden s ag ee wi h his). Also, close
o wo- hi ds o a me s and hun e s who ook pa
in he su ey sha e he opinion ha he na u al bal-
ance is e y delica e and easy o dis u b, and ha
people, plan s, and animals should ha e equal
igh s o exis .
On he o he hand, i seems ha despi e he awa e-
ness o he impo ance o ul u es, hey, like wild
animals, a e gene ally placed in a subo dina e
posi ion in ela ion o humans. Two hi ds o e-
sponden s ci e a ac i eness o ou is s as he
ul u es’ main alue, while 4 ou o 10 esponden s
belie e ha people domina e na u e, and he same
numbe belie e ha wildli e poisoning is a p oblem
only when i is endange ing people.
Figu e 20. Pe cep ion o g oups esponsible o wildli e poisoning in No h Macedonia
I don’ know Ne e Ra ely Occasionally o en
Li es ock
b eede s
Indi iduals who
delibe a ely
poison animals
simply because
hey like killing
hings
Fa me s Hun e s Pigeon
ancie s/
b eede s
Beekepe s
0%
60%
20%
80%
40%
100%
13%
19%
10%
26%
32%
19%
26%
7%
26%
23% 19%
36%
10%
19%
16% 16%
10%
16%
42%
16% 16%
55%
10%
13%
7% 10%
7%
16%
52%
16%
70
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Responden s belie e ha he poisoning o wild
animals is he esul o in en ional ac ions, mos -
ly by using illegal poisons om he black ma ke
(55%), and in a smalle pe cen age by misuse o
legal poisoning subs ances (19%). The g oups
ha a e ecognized as mainly accoun able o
wildli e poisoning a e li es ock b eede s and in-
di iduals who delibe a ely poison animals sim-
ply because hey like killing hings (58% and
45%, espec i ely). Hun e s, e e ina ians, and
ci izens in gene al (e e y indi idual) a e on he
o he hand pe cei ed as p ima ily esponsible o
epo ing cases o wildli e poisoning o he ele-
an au ho i ies.
One o he mos impo an obs acles o epo -
ing wildli e poisoning e en s o he police is he
conce n abou po en ial nega i e pe sonal con-
sequences, as well as he possibili y o disap-
p o al o incon enience wi hin hei communi y.
While ou ou o en esponden s would epo
he inciden s ega dless o hese consequences,
e e y hi d shows conce n abou he nega i e
impac epo ing would ha e on hem, while one
ou h wouldn` epo such cases a all because
among o he hings, hey do no ecei e any pe -
sonal bene i s om such ac ions.
Acco ding o he esul s o he su ey, abou wo-
hi ds o esponden s om a ge ed occupa ional
ields belie e ha people do no ha e enough in-
o ma ion abou he ins i u ions o which hey can
epo inciden s o. This can also be conside ed
as a ba ie ha educes he likelihood o iden i-
ying hose esponsible o wildli e poisoning. All
his poin s o he impo ance o u he communi-
ca ion and aising he awa eness o ci izens abou
endange ed species, p oblems o wildli e poison-
ing, e e als o ele an ins i u ions and go e n-
men o icials who ha e a signi ican ole in sol -
ing hese p oblems, as well as in emphasizing he
impo ance o he con ibu ion o each indi idual
o educing wildli e poisoning.
The key mo i es behind he poisoning o wild ani-
mals a e p o ec ion o pas u es and li es ock om
wild animals and p o ec ion om pes s, implying
he need o imp o ing exis ing measu es o he
p o ec ion o economic goods (Figu e 21).
Figu e 21. Pe cei ed mo i es behind wildli e poisoning in No h Macedonia
I don’ knowNe e Ra ely Occasionally o en
P o ec ion om pes s ( a s, insec s e a .)
P o ec ion om s ay dogs and ca s
P o ec ion o ag icul u al ields om wild animals
P o ec ion o pigeons om bi ds o p ey
P o ec ion o pas u es and li es ock om wild animals
Human-human con lic s o e land use
P o ec ion o ag icul u al ields om bi ds o p ey
P o ec ion o hun ing ac i i ies
P o ec ion o apia ies om bea s
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
16% 7% 10% 48% 19%
32%36%16%7%10%
19% 16% 39% 26%
32%26%13%13%16%
36% 13% 3% 19% 29%
36%13%10%10%32%
32% 7% 13% 10% 39%
39%13%7%7%36%
39% 10% 10% 10% 32%
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
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Abou wo- hi ds o esponden s claim hey knew
a leas one poisoning inciden wi h animals in he
pas 10 yea s. These we e mos ly he in en ion-
al cases o poisoning inside he se lemen s and
inhabi ed a eas (67%), bu in en ional poisoning
cases ou side o se lemen s because o con lic s
wi h animals canno be o e looked ei he (48%).
Also, 80% o esponden s in No h Macedonia
claim ha hey encoun e ed inciden s in e ms o
pe and hun ing o gua d dog poisonings in hei
households o communi y.
Sou hwes and Wes e n Macedonia a e pe cei ed
as egions in his coun y whe e he poisoning o
wild species mos o en occu s (16% bo h), while
a ound 40% o esponden s claim no knowing
wha he key “ho spo ” a eas a e.
Responden s, in gene al, ag ee ha di e en
measu es should be unde aken in o de o e-
duce wildli e poisoning and p o ec endange ed
species. Abou wo- hi ds o hem conside nec-
essa y se ing up addi ional supplemen a y eed-
ing si es o ul u es and inc easing adminis a i e
ines o cases o wildli e poisoning, be e in o -
ma ion and mo e in ense public campaigns abou
wildli e poisoning, and inancial compensa ion o
li es ock b eede s and a me s o he damages
caused by wild animals. Hal o he esponden s
belie e ha wildli e poisoning in es iga ions a e
an impo an pa o police wo k.
Campaigns ela ed o aising awa eness o he
nega i e consequences o wildli e poisoning
should p ima ily be aimed a ci izens in gene al
(32%), as well as li es ock b eede s and game
wa dens (16% each).
Pe cep ion o he illegal p ac ice
o wildli e poisoning wi hin ele an
go e nmen al au ho i ies in No h
Macedonia
O icials employed in ele an ins i u ions in No h
Macedonia a e well in o med abou ul u e spe-
cies inhabi ing hei coun y. They a e amilia ha
G i on Vul u e and Egyp ian Vul u e a e p esen
and b eed on he e i o y o he coun y.
Wildli e poisoning and ex ensi e use o legal
oxic compounds (pes icides, insec icides, o-
den icides) a e pe cei ed as he key h ea s o
he ul u e popula ions in No h Macedonia (by
a ound hal o he o icials). Wildli e poisoning
is conside ed o be bo h acciden al and in en-
ional, by misuse o legal poisoning subs ances
such as pes icides o insec icides o by using il-
legal black-ma ke poisons. On he o he hand,
poisoning o ul u es is mos ly pe cei ed as
unin en ional seconda y poisoning by consum-
ing poisoned animals o poison bai s in ended
o o he animals.
The key a ge g oups esponsible o wildli e
poisoning a e iden i ied as li es ock b eede s,
hun e s and indi iduals who in en ionally kill
animals ou o agg essi e impulses. These
g oups mos ly eso o wildli e poisoning o
p o ec he pas u es, ag icul u al land and li e-
s ock om wild animals and bi ds o p ey, o
p o ec hun ing g ounds, and as a p o ec ion
om pes s, s ay ca s and dogs.
O icials a e no well in o med abou he egions
o No h Macedonia whe e wildli e poisoning
mos equen ly occu s. They mos o en men-
ion Eas e n and Cen al Macedonia (a ound
one hi d o esponden s) as a ec ed a eas.
In e ms o legisla ion and legal p ocessing
in ended o sanc ion poisoning inciden s, ep-
esen a i es o he go e nmen al ins i u ions
emphasize inadequa e law en o cemen (e en
hough hey pe cei e he legal amewo k o
punishing he p ac ice o poisoning animals
as good), lack o coo dina ion among ele an
ins i u ions, low penal ies o wildli e poisoning
and spo adic imposing o ines (i.e. unde he
Hun ing Ac ). They howe e mos ly us pub-
lic p osecu o s and hei le el o educa ion o
managing inciden s ela ed o he poisoning o
wild animals.
Conside ing sanc ions o a ious unlaw ul
ac ions damaging o animals and he en i on-
men , majo i y o o icials endo se se e e pun-
ishmen s o all o ms o mass and non-disc im-
ina i e killing o animals ( apping, poisoning,
72
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
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explosi es, e c.), as well as inc ease o ines o
e e y ype o poaching o illegal shoo ing. They
also acknowledge he need o ea ing he pos-
session o poison bai s as a sepa a e o ense,
ega dless o whe he i has been p o en ha
an animal was killed and belie e ha he ang-
e s in p o ec ed a eas should ha e he au ho -
i y o a es pe pe a o s, i hey a e caugh in
he ac . Simila ly, majo i y o hem would ad o-
ca e imp isonmen sen ences o poisoning o
animals as opposed o only adminis a i e ( i-
nancial) sen ences.
The majo i y o ep esen a i es om ele an
ins i u ions in No h Macedonia a e no in-
o med abou he exis ence o Na ional ac ion
plan o comba ing wildli e poisoning, a p o o-
col de ining p ocedu es and ju isdic ions o
in es iga ing wildli e poisoning and a da a-
base o poisoning inciden s o bi ds. They also
cau ion o inadequa e coope a ion be ween
go e nmen al ins i u ions and ci il socie y o -
ganiza ions in collec ing da a abou poisoning
inciden s, which is in line wi h he pe cep ion
ha lack o coo dina ion be ween ele an ins i-
u ions and o ganiza ions is a bigge p oblem
han he lack o esou ces.
Among he key agg a a ing ci cums ances and
obs acles o p e en ion and sanc ioning o
wildli e poisoning hey highligh he di icul ies
wi h e idence p ocedu es in cou , and lack o
con ol o e he p esc ibed use o legal poi-
sons, such as pes icides, oden icides, e c.
Conside ing he ole o he Police in in es iga -
ing wildli e poisoning inciden s employees o
ele an go e nmen al ins i u ions ecognize
he complexi y o he in es iga ions, assessing
a he same ime he capaci ies o he police as
inadequa e in e ms o human capaci ies and in
e ms o educa ion and aining o police o c-
es. Majo i y o o icials belie e ha he Police
should be s eng hened by in oducing o addi-
ional o ces (people) in he ield o imely de-
ec ion o poisoning inciden s and o deal mo e
e ec i ely wi h he si ua ion whe e mos inci-
den s occu in emo e loca ions (posing a se-
ious ba ie o iden i ying o he pe pe a o s).
S eng hening would also imply in oduc ion
o specialized police uni s o en i onmen al
c ime, including wildli e poisoning, and in o-
duc ion o specialized canine uni s o de ec -
ing poisonous subs ances. They a e howe e
unce ain o di ided in opinion abou he le -
el o equipmen o he police o in es iga ing
wildli e poisoning and he need o expensi e
and sophis ica ed echnology.
All esponden s s a e ha oxicological ana-
lyzes a e necessa y in police in es iga ions o
wildli e poisoning, bu ha hei expensi eness
also poses signi ican ba ie o e ec i e in es-
iga ions. In addi ion, almos all esponden s
ecognize he necessi y o he eco ds o he
sales o legal poisoning subs ances.
Two- hi ds o esponden s belie e ha he e
is a necessi y o addi ional e o s o change
he a i ude o he police owa ds a mo e se i-
ous unde s anding o he need o in es iga e
wildli e poisoning. An addi ional obs acle in he
wo k o he police is he ailu e o epo cases
o poisoning o he police o ce, which should
be he esponsibili y o e e ina ians and hun -
e s, bu also he gene al popula ion (e e y pe -
son). Howe e , mos o icials belie e ha he
lack o in o ma ion o whom inciden s o animal
poisoning should be epo ed is an impo an
impedimen .
Conside ing measu es o p e en ing wild-
li e poisoning, almos all ins i u ional employ-
ees belie e ha u he aising o awa eness
among ci izens in gene al, li es ock b eede s
and game wa dens, imposing a s ic e con ol
o he sales o legal poisoning subs ances, c e-
a ing addi ional supplemen a y eeding si es
o ul u es and be e p o ec ion o popula ion
o wild ungula es a e he key p e en i e mea-
su es ha can help educe wildli e poisoning.
The esul s o he esea ch indica e a de el-
oped en i onmen al consciousness among
o icials in No h Macedonia. They unde s and
ha plan s and animals ha e an equal igh o
exis as humans, and ha he na u al balance
in a closed sys em such as he Ea h, wi h e y
limi ed space and esou ces, is e y delica e
and easily dis u bed. Also, op imism o u u e
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
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ac ions exis s in he belie s o wo hi ds o e-
sponden s who doub ha humans a e des-
ined o ule o e he es o na u e.
Conclusions
The p ac ice o wildli e poisoning du ing he
las 20 yea s in No h Macedonia had he wo s
e ec s on popula ions o ul u es inhabi ing
he coun y. G i on Vul u es a e by a a ec ed
he wo s by poisoning, appea ing in o e 70%
o all eco ded inciden s. Up o 125 indi iduals
pe ished om his illegal p ac ice om 2000 o
2020, making i e iden ha i ep esen s he
mos impo an h ea o he dwindling na ion-
al popula ion, and one o he bigges obs acles
o hei eco e y in he coun y. Ci cums anc-
es a e simila o he Egyp ian Vul u e as well.
Al hough only 4 indi iduals we e eco ded o
ha e pe ished om poisoning, i is s ill a hea y
blow o he small and dec easing na ional pop-
ula ion. Con lic s wi h mammalian p eda o s,
mainly wol es and la ely jackals, which in lic
damages o li es ock a e he main eason why
people in No h Macedonia eso o poisoning.
Only 7 wild species ha e been eco ded as ic-
ims o po en ial poisoning wi hin 30 sepa a e
inciden s, which likely indica es ha only inci-
den s wi h hose la ge and mo e emblema ic
species, such as ul u es, eagles, wol es, and
bea s, which a e usually o highe conse a ion
conce n, a e mainly epo ed o he au ho i ies
and in es iga ed. The e o e, i would be ecom-
mendable ha u he e o s a e in es ed in o
esea ching he ull scope o illegal poisoning
and i s e ec s on o he species in No h Mace-
donia. Addi ionally, awa eness aising ac i i-
ies abou he damaging e ec s o wildli e poi-
soning on he en i onmen and human heal h,
and especially abou he impo ance o epo -
ing po en ial poisoning e en s o he ele an
au ho i ies should be implemen ed on a la ge
scale in u al a eas o he coun y.
Cu en ly he bigges gap in he managemen
o poisoning inciden s is he lack o a na ional
oxicological labo a o y which would conduc
o ensic oxicological analyses on wild ani-
mals. The e o e, his should be one o he p i-
o i ies o esol e wi hin u u e an i-poisoning
ini ia i es in No h Macedonia
Wildli e poisoning is pe cei ed o be he mos
impo an ac o endange ing ul u e popu-
la ions in No h Macedonia by inhabi an s o
u al a eas. They belie e ha he poisoning o
wild animals is he esul o in en ional ac ions,
mos ly by using illegal poisons om he black
ma ke , and in a smalle pe cen age by misuse
o legal poisoning subs ances. The g oups ha
a e ecognized as mainly accoun able o wild-
li e poisoning a e li es ock b eede s and indi-
iduals who delibe a ely poison animals simply
because hey like killing hings. The key mo-
i es behind wildli e poisoning a e pe cei ed
o be p o ec ion o pas u es and li es ock om
wild animals and p o ec ion om pes s, imply-
ing he need o imp o ing exis ing measu es
o he p o ec ion o economic goods de i ed
om ag icul u e.
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
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The g ea majo i y (83%) o all eco ded poison-
ing inciden s in Se bia du ing his pe iod o igi-
na e om he egion o Voj odina. Such spa ial
dis ibu ion o poisoning and po en ial poisoning
e en s is somewha biased and ep esen s p i-
ma ily he esul o in ensi e ield wo k ha BPSSS
has conduc ed in he egion owa ds de ec ion o
po en ial poisoning e en s, whe e hey a e based,
and whe e mos o hei membe s, olun ee s and
suppo e s a e loca ed. The eali y o wildli e poi-
soning is ha i one in es s mo e ime and e o in
looking o wildli e poisoning, he mo e po en ial
poisoning e en s will be eco ded. The e o e, i is
expec ed ha he egion o Voj odina would ha e
he highes concen a ion o poisoning inciden s
compa ed o he es o he coun y, whe e e y
ew e o s a e in es ed in de ec ion and p e en-
ion o poisoning. The main d i e o poison use in
his egion o Se bia a e con lic s wi h jackals and
s ay dogs which can o en cause damages o
game animals in comme cial hun ing a eas, and
o li es ock in u al a eas. Addi ionally, Voj odina
is he mos in ensi ely a med egion in Se bia
which is why cases o misuse o pes icides and
o he phy osani a y p oduc s a e mos ly eco ded
he e as well. The e o e, i is highly p obable ha
he cu en dis ibu ion o poisoning e en s does
no e lec he ealis ic si ua ion and scope o he
illegal use o poison in he whole coun y.
Reducing he h ea ha wildli e poisoning pos-
es o many wild species in Se bia p ima ily de-
pends on much s ic e en o cemen o exis ing
legisla ion by ele an go e nmen al au ho i ies,
especially legisla ion ela ed o he con ol o p o-
duc ion, ade and applica ion o pes icides and
simila chemical compounds used in ag icul u e.
Banned subs ances a e ela i ely a ailable on he
exis ing black ma ke and we e e en eco ded o
ha e been ad e ised h ough social ne wo ks
such as Facebook, a ious in e ne adds and ee-
ly sold on local ai s and ma ke s in u al a eas.
The e a e unce ain ies wi h esponsibili ies and
ju isdic ion o ele an ins i u ions ega ding p e-
en ion, con ol and in es iga ion o poisoning
inciden s. The e o e, mo e e icien and clea -cu
legal p o ocols o desc ibing esponsibili ies in
epo ing, in es iga ing, and p ocessing cases
o wildli e poisoning need o be de eloped. Also,
communica ion and in o ma ion change be ween
esponsible ins i u ions and sec o s ela ed o ju-
isdic ion, esponsibili ies need o be enhanced.
Apa om his, he de elopmen o o ganized
sys ems and p o ocols ela ed o epo ing, col-
lec ing and disposal o dead animals would also
be e y use ul in educing he amoun o unsa e
ood a ailable o sca enge s, hus educing he
p obabili y o poisoning o occu .
Acco ding o he da a we we e able o ob ain,
he e is only one poisoning inciden ha occu ed
in he las 20 yea s whe e he culp i was success-
ully iden i ied, p osecu ed and sen enced, while
in se e al o he inciden s whe e p o ec ed wildli e
species we e poisoned, cha ges we e b ough up
agains unknown pe pe a o s. The case da es o
Ap il 2020 when 5 dead Common C anes we e
ound poisoned in an ag icul u al ield om co n
seeds laced wi h Ca bo u an, which we e inade-
qua ely se as bai s o oden s.
Legal amewo k
Se bia has good na ional legisla ion in place ela -
ed o he use o poison subs ances in he na u al
en i onmen , whe e wildli e poisoning is clea ly
de ined as an illegal ac i i y, punishable unde
C iminal law.
Exis ing na ional legisla ion ele an o wild-
li e poisoning in Se bia:
• Law on na u e p o ec ion: A icle 79.
p ohibi s he use o ce ain means o
ca ching and killing wild species animals
endange ing and ha assing hei pop-
ula ions and/o habi a s, dis up s hei
well-being and can cause hei local dis-
appea ance, which include he use o poi-
son o anquilizing bai s.
• Law on hun ing and game animals:
A icle 22. p ohibi s he use o phy osan-
i a y subs ances and o he chemical sub-
s ances in quan i ies and dosages ha
can cause damages o game animals, as
well as in en ional poisoning o game an-
imals.
• C iminal law: Acco ding o a icle 269,
whoe e , by iola ing hese egula ions,
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
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kills, hu s, o u es o o he wise abuses
animals, shall be punished by a ine o im-
p isonmen no exceeding one yea . Addi-
ionally, acco ding o a icle 276, whoe e
hun s game animals whose hun ing is
o bidden o who hun s wi hou a special
pe mi a pa icula game animal o which
hun ing equi es such a pe mi o who
hun s in a manne o means ha in lic s
mass des uc ion o game animals, shall
be punished by imp isonmen o a e m
no exceeding h ee yea s.
Rele an in e na ional ea ies and con en-
ions ha Se bia is pa ies o:
Con en ion on he Conse a ion o Eu ope-
an Wildli e and Na u al Habi a s (Be n, 1979):
Ra i ied wi h he Law on Ra i ica ion (“O icial Ga-
ze e o he Republic o Macedonia no. 49/97) and
en e ed in o o ce in 1999. I p ohibi s he use o
any non-selec i e means o cap u e o killing as
well as o means ha may induce local ex inc ion
o hea ily dis u b he popula ions o a species,
namely means lis ed in Annex IV”, while in Annex
IV o he same Law, which is en i led “P ohibi ed
means and me hods o hun ing and o he o ms o
exploi a ion”, “Poisons and poison o anquilizing
bai s” a e included.
Pe cep ion o he illegal p ac ice
o wildli e poisoning in local com-
muni ies in Se bia
Su eys in Se bia we e ca ied ou in commu-
ni ies o S iloje o and Peš e , and he sample
included 45 esponden s in o al. Responden
om he local communi ies in Se bia a e gene -
ally well in o med abou he p esence o G i on
Vul u es in hei coun y. Howe e , hey a e in-
adequa ely in o med when comes o he p es-
ence o he o he ul u e species and whe he
hey b eed in Se bia. They a e also no su i-
cien ly in o med abou he issue o wildli e poi-
soning in Se bia and i s impac on wildli e.
Wildli e poisoning is pe cei ed as he bigges
h ea o he ul u e popula ion in Se bia. How-
e e , awa eness needs o be addi ionally aised
and become mo e widesp ead since only a hi d
o esponden s (29%) pe cei e i as he g ea -
es dange ha ul u es ace. Poisoning is ol-
lowed by elec ocu ion as a esul o collision
wi h elec ic cables (18%). Lack o ood and
dis u bance a e bo h seen as he hi d mos im-
po an h ea o ul u es in Se bia (13% each),
his is ollowed by poaching (11%).
Vul u es in Se bia a e conside ed o be ic-
ims o unin en ional poisoning, as hey a e
pe cei ed o pe ish due o ea ing poisoned
animals, o poison bai s in ended o o he an-
imals. Only a small numbe o esponden s be-
lie e ha ul u es a e he a ge s o in en ional
poisoning (7%).
Nea ly 70% o esponden s acknowledge he
impo an ole ha ul u es ha e in he eco-
sys em and 60% o hem belie e ha hei ex-
is ence is impo an o humans as well. These
indings indica e a p e ailing posi i e a i ude
owa ds ul u es and hei ole in he en i on-
men . In line wi h his a e he esponden s’ gen-
e al a i udes owa ds na u e – hey belie e ha
he Ea h has limi ed space and esou ces, ha
plan s and animals ha e he same igh o exis
as humans do and ha he balance o na u e is
e y delica e and easy o dis u b.
Fu he in o ming abou he isks and conse-
quences o in en ional poisoning o animals is
necessa y, as abou one hi d o esponden s
belie e ha go e nmen s should o ganize con-
olled campaigns o poisoning as a means o
con ol popula ions o e al animals and pes s,
and a ound one qua e o hem ind ha occa-
sionally poisoning o wildli e is jus i ied. How-
e e , i should be no ed ha esponden s a e
di ided when i comes o his ques ion. 40% o
hem belie e ha i is no jus i ied and one hi d
is undecided. In addi ion o his, hey a e simi-
la ly di ided when i comes o whe he humans
ha e he igh o ule o e na u e - 36% o hem
belie e ha i is he des iny o humans o ule
o e na u e while 40 % conside his no o be
ue.
A li le less han 60% o esponden s om he
a ge ed local communi ies in Se bia belie e
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
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ha wildli e poisoning happens in en ionally –
app oxima ely in equal measu e ei he h ough
he abuse o legal poisoning subs ances such
as pes icides and insec icides, o h ough he
in en ional usage o illegal poisoning subs anc-
es om he black ma ke . Abou one qua e
o esponden s a e o he opinion ha wildli e
poisoning mos o en happens acciden ally,
h ough he misuse o legal poisoning sub-
s ances ou o negligence o igno ance.
Responden s om local communi ies in Se -
bia (Figu e 25) pe cei e he ollowing g oups o
be he mos esponsible o wildli e poisoning:
a me s (62%), li es ock b eede s (49%) and
hun e s (34%). When i comes o he esponsi-
bili y o epo ing in o ma ion/knowledge abou
wildli e poisoning o he police, he majo i y o
esponden s (71%) belie e ha his should be
he esponsibili y o all ci izens in addi ion o
hun e s and e e ina ians.
Fo he majo i y (60%) he mos impo an ba -
ie o epo ing inciden s o wildli e poisoning is
a oiding coming in o con lic wi h membe s o hei
communi y. Nea ly 40% o esponden s s a e ha
hey would epo he inciden only i hey knew
ha he e would be no nega i e consequences o
hem, 13% o he esponden s would no epo i
and nea ly 10% a e undecided. In addi ion o his,
he e appea s o be somewha o a di usion o e-
sponsibili y, as one i h o he esponden s belie e
ha ha a e enough people who a e al eady deal-
ing wi h he issue o wildli e poisoning and hei in-
ol emen is no necessa y.
Ano he key ba ie is he pe cep ion ha ci izens
do no know who o epo hese inciden s o –
nea ly 70% o esponden s sha e his a i ude and
on he o he side only 10% disag ee wi h his s a e-
men . These indings imply ha i is necessa y o
p o ide ci izens in a ec ed communi ies wi h im-
po an in o ma ion conce ning whom hey can e-
po wildli e poisoning cases o, bu also o wo k on
shi ing public opinions in he di ec ion o no mal-
izing he epo ing o hese cases and addi ionally
empowe ing ci izens o pa icipa e in he iden i ica-
ion and p e en ion o poisoning inciden s.
Figu e 25. Pe cep ion o g oups esponsible o wildli e poisoning in Se bia
I don’ know Ne e Ra ely Occasionally o en
Li es ock
b eede s
Indi iduals who
delibe a ely
poison animals
simply because
hey like killing
hings
Fa me s Hun e s Pigeon
ancie s/
b eede s
Beekepe s
0%
60%
20%
80%
40%
100%
9%
5%
24%
42%
20%
9%
40%
36%
4%
11% 11%
17%
38%
27%
7% 7%
20%
40%
11%
22% 25%
18%
44%
11%
2% 7%
38%
31%
24%
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The mos equen ly highligh ed mo i es o wild-
li e poisoning a e p o ec ion om pes s, (76%),
p o ec ion om s ay dogs and ca s (51%), p o-
ec ion o ag icul u al land, pas u es and li es ock
om wild animals (27% each). These inding im-
ply ha he e is a need o aise awa eness abou
al e na i e solu ions o hese issues ha could be
o e ed and applied wi h less de imen al e ec s
on he en i onmen (Figu e 26).
A ound hal o he esponden s claim o know o
a leas one case o poisoning in hei communi y/
en i onmen in he pas en yea s. The majo i y o
hese a e cases o in en ional poisoning. Nea ly
70% o hem claim o ha e encoun e ed cases
o in en ional poisoning in se lemen s, whe eas
mo e han one i h o epo encoun e ing inci-
den s when someone in en ionally poisoned wild
animals ou side o se lemen s. The majo i y o
poisoned animals we e pe s, ollowed by bees
and gua d dogs.
When i comes o egions whe e poisoning oc-
cu s, app oxima ely one hi d o he sample be-
lie es ha Voj odina is he egion whe e poison-
ing occu s mos o en. I is ollowed by Eas and
Sou h Se bia, Wes Se bia and Šumadija, and
Belg ade (11%, 9% and 9%, espec i ely), which
a e all iden i ied as p oblema ic a eas ega ding
wildli e poisoning.
Rega ding measu es o p e en ion and comba -
ing wildli e poisoning, he one ha is singled ou
as he mos impo an is ha he s a e/go e n-
men should inancially compensa e he damage
o li es ock b eede s and a me s caused by wild
animals (82%). I is closely ollowed by inc easing
adminis a i e ines o wildli e poisoning (78%),
inc eased in o ming o he gene al public abou
wildli e poisoning (76%) and s onge con ol e-
ga ding impo and ade o legal poisoning sub-
s ances (67%). Addi ionally, 44% o esponden s
conside wildli e poisoning in es iga ions o be
impo an police wo k.
One hi d o he sample belie es ha awa eness
abou he issue o wildli e poisoning needs o be
aised among ci izens in gene al. They a e ol-
lowed by a me s (25%), li es ock b eede s and
hun e s (9% each).
Figu e 26. Pe cei ed mo i es behind wildli e poisoning in Se bia
I don’ knowNe e Ra ely Occasionally o en
P o ec ion om pes s ( a s, insec s e a .)
P o ec ion om s ay dogs and ca s
P o ec ion o ag icul u al ields om wild animals
P o ec ion o pigeons om bi ds o p ey
P o ec ion o pas u es and li es ock om wild animals
Human-human con lic s o e land use
P o ec ion o ag icul u al ields om bi ds o p ey
P o ec ion o hun ing ac i i ies
P o ec ion o apia ies om bea s
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
4%
2% 36% 40% 18%
22%22%29%20%7%
2% 29% 13% 22% 34%
22%13%22%16%27%
18% 20% 20% 7% 35%
36%
35%
44%9%16%20%11%
26% 20% 9% 7% 38%
7%
11%
20%
16%
20%
20%
18%
18%
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Pe cep ion o he illegal p ac ice
o wildli e poisoning wi hin ele-
an go e nmen al au ho i ies in
Se bia
Rep esen a i es o ele an go e nmen al ins i-
u ions in Se bia a e well in o med abou ce ain
species o ul u es, such as he p esence o he
G i on Vul u e in hei coun y. Howe e , he e is
somewha o a lack o knowledge when i comes
o he conse a ion s a us o o he species o ul-
u es, as one hi d o he esponden s hink ha
he Egyp ian Vul u e s ill b eeds in Se bia and a
li le less han one i h belie e he same o he
Cine eous Vul u e.
Wildli e poisoning is acknowledged as he mos
impo an h ea o he exis ence o ul u es in
Se bia (by a ound hal o he o icials), bu he us-
age o legal oxic compounds (pes icides, insec i-
cides, oden icides) is also amongs op iden i ied
dange s ha leads o poisoning o wild animals
(app oxima ely e e y i h esponden ).
While he majo i y o he esponden s belie e ha
he key cause o ul u e poisoning is acciden al,
ei he h ough inges ion o poison bai s in ended
o o he animals o by ea ing animals ha died o
poisoning, opinions o esponden s a e di ided
when i comes o he ques ion o whe he wild-
li e poisoning occu s acciden ally o in en ional-
ly. Close o hal o ins i u ions employees belie e
ha wildli e poisoning happens acciden ally by
misuse o legal poisoning subs ances and neg-
ligence, while he o he hal belie es ha wildli e
poisoning happens mos ly in en ionally, by using
illegal poisons om he black ma ke o h ough
abuse o legal poisoning subs ances.
Fa me s, and o a lesse ex en hun e s, bu also
indi iduals who delibe a ely poison animals ou
o agg essi e and des uc i e impulses a e pe -
cei ed as he mos esponsible g oups o wild-
li e poisoning. This is pa ially in line wi h wha
esponden s conside o be he mos impo an
mo i es o he poisoning o wild animals. Abo e
wo hi ds o o icials om ele an ins i u ions
conside p o ec ion om pes s and ag icul u al
land om wild animals, p o ec ion o pas u es and
li es ock om wild animals and p o ec ion om
s ay dogs and ca s o be he key mo i es behind
wildli e poisoning ha should be add essed by
join ins i u ional e o s. Con lic s among people
abou land use (pas u es, hun ing a eas) should
also be legally add essed in his p ocess.
Voj odina and Wes e n Se bia and Šumadija a e
he egions o Se bia, ha should be paid special
a en ion in he igh o wildli e p o ec ion acco d-
ing o he opinion o employees o ele an go -
e nmen al ins i u ions.
Inadequa e en o cemen o he laws, low penal ies
and a e imposing o he ines o wildli e poisoning,
inadequa e and unclea p o ocols o police ac ion,
complexi y o he in es iga ions, di icul ies wi h
e idence p ocedu es in cou , inadequa e educa-
ion o public p osecu o s o handle he inciden s
ela ed o poisoning o wild animals, lack o con ol
o e he p esc ibed use o legal poisons, such as
pes icides, and online black ma ke o banned poi-
sons a e all pe cei ed as impo an agg a a ing ci -
cums ances and obs acles o he p e en ion and
sanc ioning o wildli e poisoning in Se bia.
Poo epo ing o poisoning e en s om wi ness-
es is also pe cei ed as an impo an obs acle, and
he esponsibili y o epo ing in o ma ion abou
wildli e poisoning o he police is alloca ed o all
membe s o he popula ion (e e y pe son), as
well as hun e s and e e ina ians. This is hinde ed
by pe cei ed isk o al e ca ions and con lic s in
local communi ies ha people who epo poison-
ing e en s ace, bu also by he lack o in o ma-
ion o whom o epo animal poisoning inciden s
o. The e o e, ci izens in gene al, and speci ically
a me s, a e iden i ied as he mos impo an a -
ge g oups o awa eness aising ac ions.
The esponden s a e mos ly unin o med abou
he exis ence o da abase o poisoning inciden s
in Se bia, Na ional ac ion plan o comba ing wild-
li e poisoning and p o ocol de ining p ocedu es
and ju isdic ions o in es iga ing wildli e poison-
ing. Al hough a ew o he esponden s claim ha
hey use he da a om he exis ing da abase o
poisoning inciden s o bi ds o ca ying ou wo k
wi hin hei ju isdic ion, he small numbe o o i-
cials in o med abou he da abase a e di ided
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
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abou he cla i y o p o ocol o documen ing
poisoning inciden s and hey mos ly ag ee ha
he exis ing da abase is no adequa ely used o
in o ming he public and aising hei awa eness
abou he p oblem o wildli e poisoning. A he
same ime, esul s o he esea ch indica e he
need o imp o emen o he coope a ion be-
ween go e nmen al ins i u ions and ci il socie y
o ganiza ions ega ding da a collec ion abou poi-
soning inciden s.
Rep esen a i es om he ele an go e nmen-
al ins i u ions in Se bia emphasize he impo -
an ole o police wo k in in es iga ion o wildli e
poisoning inciden s. Se e al aspec s ega ding
he capaci y o he police ha need imp o emen
ha e been iden i ied, om he need o in oduce
specialized police uni s o en i onmen al c ime,
specialized canine uni s o de ec ing poisonous
subs ances, o in oducing addi ional agen s (po-
lice, en i onmen al inspec o s, ange s e c.) in
he ield, aining and capaci y building o police
o ces, o he need o in ol e ep esen a i es o
ci il socie y o ganiza ions in wildli e poisoning
in es iga ions. Insu icien educa ion o he po-
lice o ces o in es iga ing hese inciden s and
lack o coo dina ion among ele an ins i u ions is
pe cei ed as a bigge p oblem han he lack o e-
sou ces and equipmen . Responden s a e indeci-
si e and no comple ely su e abou he need o
expensi e and sophis ica ed echnology in police
in es iga ions o wildli e poisoning.
When i comes o measu es o p e en ing wild-
li e poisoning, esponden s a e in ag eemen in
ecognizing he impo ance o he ollowing mea-
su es: aising awa eness among key s akehold-
e s (li es ock b eede s, a me s, hun e s, ins i-
u ions) as well as he gene al public, imposing
a s ic e con ol o he ade o legal poisoning
subs ances (pes icides, oden icides, e c.), inan-
cial compensa ion om he s a e/go e nmen o
he damages o li es ock b eede s and a me s
caused by wild animals, c ea ing mo e supple-
men a y eeding si es o ul u es, and be e p o-
ec ion o wild ungula e popula ions.
Responden s a e in a ou o en o cing he mos
se e e o ms o punishmen o all o ms o mass
and non-disc imina i e killing o animals ( ap-
ping, poisoning, explosi es e al.), and hey be-
lie e ha highe ines a e needed o e e y ype
o poaching/illegal shoo ing. The majo i y o hem
also belie e ha he possession o poison bai s
should be conside ed a sepa a e o ence, ega d-
less o whe he i has been p o en ha an animal
was killed. O icials mos ly ag ee ha ange s o
p o ec ed a eas should ha e he au ho i y o a -
es pe sons who poison animals, i caugh in he
ac , and ha he concessionai e should be de-
p i ed o he concession i poisoning o wild ani-
mals occu s in a comme cial hun ing a ea. They
also conside ha poisoning o animals should
no only be a c iminal o ense i i occu s in a p o-
ec ed a ea (na u e pa k o na ional pa k) and ha
he sen ences should co espondingly include
imp isonmen (as opposed o solely adminis a-
i e sen ences) o no only a ec ing he humans
bu also endange ing he animals.
The as majo i y o ep esen a i es o go e n-
men al ins i u ions om Se bia belie e ha plan s
and animals ha e an equal igh o exis jus like
humans and ha he na u al balance is e y deli-
ca e and easy o dis u b. Majo i y o esponden s
also pe cei e he Ea h o be like a spaceship,
wi h e y limi ed space and esou ces. Close o
h ee ou hs o he sample belie e ha humans
a en’ des ined o ule o e he es o na u e.
Conclusions
Poisoning o wildli e con inues o be a common
occu ence in Se bia, ha ing he wo s e ec on
species who o en eso o sca enging as a po-
en ial ood sou ce, such as he Whi e- ailed Ea-
gle, Common Buzza d and Ma sh Ha ie , which
a e he usual ic ims o poisoning in he coun y.
Unlike all he o he coun ies om he egion, wild-
li e poisoning cu en ly does no appea o be a
se ious h ea ening ac o o he na ional ul u e
popula ion. Inciden s wi h ul u e mo ali y a e
a ely eco ded, and wi h ul u e poisoning e en
a e , wi h he las one being eco ded in 2008.
Howe e , apa om he exis ing p o ec ed a eas
which we e c ea ed p ima ily o he pu pose o
p o ec ing he emaining popula ion o G i on Vul-
u es in Se bia, e y li le e o s ha e been in es -
ed o assess he scope o wildli e poisoning in he
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
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es o he coun y and o de e mine o wha ex-
en i po en ially h ea ens he coun y’s ul u es.
The e o e, u u e conse a ion e o s should o-
cus on in es iga ing he scope o human-wildli e
con lic s, especially con lic s wi h p eda o s, such
as wol es and jackals, which o en in lic damag-
es o li es ock and game animals. These con lic s
a e cu en ly he bigges known d i e s o poison
use in Se bia, ollowed by he misuse o plan p o-
ec ion p oduc s in in ensi ely a med landscapes
in he coun y’s no he n p o ince.
Conse a ion e o s in es ed by CSOs du ing he
las decade in o diminishing he h ea o wildli e
poisoning in Se bia ha e esul ed in be e en-
gagemen o ele an go e nmen al au ho i ies
wi h his speci ic ype o en i onmen al c ime.
Du ing he las 5 yea s, o e e y hi d poison-
ing e en oxicological analysis was conduc ed,
which is a signi ican s ep o wa d owa ds be e
managemen o po en ial poisoning e en s. Des-
igna ing addi ional oxicological labo a o ies wi h
su icien capaci ies o conduc ing o ensic analy-
sis on wildli e would u he imp o e his si ua ion.
Addi ionally, hese in es ed e o s also esul ed
in somewha be e engagemen o ele an law
en o cemen ins i u ions in Se bia. Al hough his
engagemen mainly ela es o in es iga ion o
inciden s which in ol e mo ali y o emblema ic
species which a e o a highe conse a ion con-
ce n, such as eagles, i is a signi ican p og ess,
which esul ed in se e al in es iga ed cases be-
ing b ough o cou . Fu he speci ic aining o
law en o cemen agen s, public p osecu o s and
o he ele an s akeholde s is necessa y in o de
o imp o e he o e all managemen o poisoning
inciden s.
Wildli e poisoning is pe cei ed as he bigges
h ea o he ul u e popula ion in Se bia by peo-
ple om u al a eas. The majo i y o hem be-
lie es ha wildli e poisoning happens in en ion-
ally, equally h ough he abuse o legal poisoning
subs ances such as pes icides and insec icides,
o h ough he in en ional use o illegal poisoning
subs ances om he black ma ke . They pe cei e
a me s, li es ock b eede s and hun e s as he
g oups mos esponsible o wildli e poisoning
in Se bia. The same g oups a e iden i ied by he
ep esen a i es o ele an go e nmen al ins i-
u ions, who belie e ha wildli e poisoning hap-
pens acciden ally by misuse o legal poisoning
subs ances and negligence, while he o he hal
belie es ha wildli e poisoning happens mos -
ly in en ionally, by using illegal poisons om he
black ma ke o h ough abuse o legal poisoning
subs ances.
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
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S a us o wildli e poisoning in he
Balkan Peninsula
Wildli e poisoning con inues o ep esen one he
mos dominan h ea s o many wild species in
he Balkan Peninsula. I also a ec s nume ous
domes ic animals, and because o i s common
and equen use in a ious o ms i ep esen s a
se e e h ea o human heal h as well. The anal-
ysis o e ec s o poisoning on domes ic animals
was no he subjec o his s udy, al hough i is
impo an o men ion ha poisoning e en s wi h
domes ic animals, p ima ily dogs (hun ing, shep-
he d dogs, s ay dogs and pe s) a e mo e com-
mon, especially in u ban en i onmen s, and a e
mo e equen ly epo ed o he au ho i ies.
The mos common ype o wildli e poisoning in
he Balkan Peninsula is he in en ional placemen
o poison bai s o he pu pose o killing wild, e al
o in some cases domes ic animals. Poison bai s
in he Balkans come in all shapes and sizes, om
en i e ca casses o dead animals (mos ly li e-
s ock, bu also game animals, poul y), indi idual
body pa s, pieces o mea o a ious sizes, sau-
sages, boiled eggs, ish, honey laced wi h oxic
compounds, and also wax capsules wi h Cya-
nide. P esen ly, he use o poison bai s o poison-
ing o animals in gene al is illegal in each coun y
o he Balkan Peninsula, bu i is a deeply oo ed
p ac ice, s ill commonly p ac iced by people as a
quick and ela i ely a o dable me hod o esol -
ing con lic s wi h wildli e.
Wi hin he pe iod o 2000-2020 a o al o 1048
poisoning and p esumable poisoning wildli e poi-
soning e en s ha e been eco ded h oughou
he Balkan Peninsula. Mo e han hal (55%) o all
e en s ha occu ed in he egion du ing his pe i-
od o igina e om G eece. The di e si y o poison
bai s and oxic compounds used o poisoning o
animals addi ionally con ibu e o he pe cep ion
ha his ype o en i onmen al c ime is indeed
much mo e equen in G eece han in o he coun-
ies o he Balkan egion. On he o he hand, he
issue o illegal use o poison bai s has been he
ocus o conse a ion e o s o na ional CSOs in
G eece o he pas 10 yea s, which ha e in es ed
signi ican e o s and esou ces in documen ing
his illegal p ac ice compa ed o o he coun ies.
The eali y o wildli e poisoning is ha i mo e e -
o s a e in es ed in o esea ch o i s scope, mo e
poisoning inciden s will be de ec ed. This is ue
as well o spa ial dis ibu ion o poisoning inci-
den s, and he e o e hose a eas in which mo e
e o s we e in es ed in moni o ing usually show
a highe numbe o poisoning inciden s. The e-
o e, i is highly likely ha he cu en s a us o
wildli e poisoning in he Balkan egion and in each
coun y indi idually, which was he subjec o his
s udy, does no e lec he ealis ic si ua ion and
ha a g ea numbe o po en ial poisoning e en s
emains un eco ded.
Apa om G eece, high numbe s o poisoning in-
ciden s can be ound in Se bia, whe e mo e han
a qua e (28%) o all poisoning and p esumable
wildli e poisoning e en s ha ha e been eco ded
in he egion o igina e om. Simila o he si ua-
ion in G eece, CSOs om Se bia ha e in es ed
signi ican e o s in moni o ing he phenomenon
o wildli e poisoning, al hough almos exclusi e-
ly in he no he n egions o he coun y whe e
hey ha e mo e people on he g ound o ac i e
and p e en i e sea ches o po en ial poisoning
inciden s. O he a ge coun ies om he egion
show signi ican ly lowe numbe s o eco ded in-
ciden s, which can mos ly be a ibu ed o he ac
ha sys ema ic moni o ing and documen a ion o
wildli e poisoning has been conduc ed p ima ily
in a eas ha a e impo an o ce ain species o
conse a ion conce n a he na ional le el ( ul-
CONCLUSIONS
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
u e species, Impe ial Eagles o Sake Falcons).
Addi ionally, apa om Bulga ia, in he emaining
coun ies wildli e poisoning only became a ocus
o ac i e esea ch and moni o ing since 2018.
Da a abou wildli e poisoning used o p oduce his
s udy o igina es om in e nal da abases on CSOs
which a e ac i e in comba ing his en i onmen al
c ime. The e a e no o icial da abases among el-
e an go e nmen al ins i u ions om he Balkan
coun ies whe e in o ma ion abou poisoning and
po en ial poisoning inciden s a e s o ed. Mos o
he ele an ins i u ions s o e only in o ma ion
abou hose inciden s which we e ully in es iga -
ed by law en o cemen o icials and ha made i
o cou . Less han 1% o poisoning inciden s in
he Balkans e e make i o cou ials, and e en
less ge o icially sanc ioned, as cha ges a e usu-
ally b ough up agains unknown pe pe a o s. All
o his indica es ha wildli e poisoning is e y low
on he lis o p io i ies o ele an go e nmen al
au ho i ies and ha hei o e all engagemen wi h
his ype o en i onmen al c ime is also minimal.
Based on he a ailable in o ma ion abou poi-
soning and po en ial poisoning inciden s ha oc-
cu ed om 2000-2020 in he Balkan Peninsula
i is e iden ha he G i on Vul u e popula ion
inhabi ing his egion su e ed he wo s om he
illegal p ac ice o wildli e poisoning (Figu e 27).
These ul u es appea as casual ies in e e y i h
poisoning e en in he Balkans, and a o al o 400
indi iduals pe ished wi hin 233 sepa a e poison-
ing o p esumable poisoning inciden s. Common
Buzza d and Red Fox closely ollow, wi h 392 in-
di iduals wi hin 190 sepa a e inciden s and 389
indi iduals wi hin 141 sepa a e inciden s espec-
i ely. O he mo e equen ic ims o his illegal
p ac ice include Whi e- ailed Eagle, which was
eco ded as a casual y in 75 sepa a e inciden s
whe e 111 indi iduals go poisoned, Ma sh Ha i-
e , eco ded in 31 sepa a e inciden s wi h 89 poi-
soned indi iduals and Eu asian Wol , eco ded
in 40 sepa a e inciden s wi h 75 indi iduals ound
poisoned o p esumably poisoned.
Figu e 27. Common ic ims o wildli e poisoning in he Balkan Peninsula
450
300
150
400
250
100
350
200
50
0
Golden Eagle
Ma sh Ha ie
G i on Vul u e
Eu asian Wol
Common Buzza d
Golden Jackal
Red Fox
B own Bea
Whi e- ailed Eagle
Egyp ian Vul u e
Cine eous Vul u e
Impe ial Eagle
Inciden s Casual ies
89
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
A ian sca enge s in gene al a e a g oup o spe-
cies which su e s he mos om illegal wildli e
poisoning, non-mo e so han ul u es, which a e
eco ded as casual ies in e e y o h inciden .
F om he yea 2000 o 2020 a o al o 468 ul u es
pe ished in he Balkan Peninsula, including 47
Egyp ian Vul u es, 23 Cine eous Vul u es and one
Bea ded Vul u e. These da a a e no es ima es,
bu conc e e da a ob ained om poisoning and
p esumable poisoning e en s ha occu ed in
he egion, om which we can conclude ha an
a e age o 22 ul u es a e poisoned annually on
he Balkan peninsula. I we ake in o accoun ha
app oxima ely only 20 % o poisoning inciden s
a e e e disco e ed and documen ed, we can
es ima e ha abou 112 ul u es a e po en ially
being poisoned annually h oughou he Balkans.
Such losses exe a hea y oll on he ul u e pop-
ula ions o he egion. The e o e, i is e iden ha
wildli e poisoning con inues o be he single mos
impo an h ea o ul u es in he Balkan Penin-
sula and cu en limi ing ac o o hei eco e y.
This ac o has o be aken in o accoun when
planning any conse a ion ini ia i es ega ding
ul u es, especially e-s ocking and ein oduc-
ion ini ia i es.
Figu e 29. Numbe o poisoning e en s in he Balkan Peninsula wi hin he esea ch pe iod
Figu e 28. Vul u e poisoning in he Balkan Peninsula om 2000-2020
Numbe o pe ished ul u es Numbe o poisoning inciden s
0
2000
2005
2010
2001
2006
2011
2015
2002
2007
2012
2016
2003
2008
2013
2017
2019
2004
2009
2014
2018
2020
10
20
30
40
50
60
0
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
40
20
27 27
21
42 45
47
74
42
32 34
54
73
60
49
83
70
92
62
48
42
30
60
80
10
50
30
70
90
100
96
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
oxicological analysis o p osecu ion and
legal p oceeding o poisoning inciden s
a e essen ial.
Encou age coope a ion and coo dina ion
be ween a ious sec o s in ol ed, includ-
ing expe s o he En i onmen al au ho i-
ies, public p osecu o s, law en o cemen
o ice s, en i onmen al CSOs, hun ing
associa ions, a ming associa ions and
he media on all le els ( ede al, en i y-le -
el, can onal).
Se up channels o luid exchange o in-
o ma ion wi h he law en o cemen o i-
cials, Public P osecu o s’ O ice wi h o h-
e ele an go e nmen al au ho i ies and
CSOs o coo dina e join ac ion.
Bulga ia
Na u e conse a ion o ganiza ions in Bulga ia
ha e been e y ac i e in he ield o ul u e con-
se a ion o he pas 20 yea s, including he
s uggle wi h illegal poisoning as he mos impo -
an conse a ion issues o hese sca enge s.
The cou se o implemen a ion o p ojec s and ini-
ia i es ela ed o ul u e conse a ion in Bulga -
ia ha e de ined he ollowing ac i i ies as p io i y
ac ions o be de eloped and implemen ed in he
u u e in o de o comba wildli e poisoning mo e
e ec i ely on a na ional scale.
Ad oca e be e law en o cemen , adap a ion
and imp o emen o cu en na ional legal
amewo k:
Imp o e he legisla ion ela ed o wildli e
poisoning and ul u e conse a ion o-
wa ds s ic e penal ies and legal ami i-
ca ions.
De elop a commonly ag eed and legal
p o ocol o esponsible au ho i ies ela -
ed o legal p ocessing o wildli e poisoning
cases, esponsibili ies and ju isdic ion o
all esponsible go e nmen al ins i u ions.
En o cemen o he ecen ly endo sed
Na ional Ac ion plan agains wildli e poi-
soning in Bulga ia.
Capaci y building and ne wo king:
Signi ican e o s a e needed owa ds
capaci y building and aining o legal and
echnical pe sonnel and law en o cemen
o ice s o he go e nmen al au ho i ies
ela ed o his ma e . T aining anging
om de ec ion o poison bai s and poi-
soned animals in he ield, conduc ion o
oxicological analysis o p osecu ion and
legal p oceeding o poisoning inciden s
a e essen ial.
Encou age coope a ion and coo dina ion
be ween a ious sec o s in ol ed, includ-
ing expe s o he En i onmen al au ho i-
ies, public p osecu o s, law en o cemen
o ice s, en i onmen al CSOs, hun ing
associa ions, a ming associa ions and
he media on all le els ( ede al, en i y-le -
el, can onal).
Awa eness aising ac i i ies:
Con inue o aise awa eness o he gene -
al public and go e nmen al au ho i ies o
he p oblem doing so by means o media
campaigns and p omo ional wo k.
Con inue o conduc en i onmen al ed-
uca ion campaigns abou he impac o
poisons on h ea ened species and hu-
man heal h isks, plus he penal ies which
can apply, as well as he bene i s o he
p esence o p eda o s in he ecosys em,
a ge ing li es ock b eede s, hun e s,
gamekeepe s and o he s akeholde s el-
e an o po en ial use o poison bai s in
he en i onmen .
Ac i e conse a ion measu es:
Con inue wi h he in oduc ion and e-
in o cemen o wild ungula es species
(Ibex, Fallow Dee , Chamois, Red dee )
o p o ide na u al p ey o he p eda o s
and ul u es and o dec ease losses o
li es ock.
Ad oca e o shi ing om sheep and goa s
o ca le aising in ce ain a eas, which
would u he dec ease losses o li es ock
due o p eda ion by mammalian p eda o s.
97
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Es ablish a ne wo k o Pe manen sa e
supplemen a y eeding si es o a ian
sca enge s in he coun y.
Con inue wi h ac i e de ec ion and su -
eillance o he use o poison bai s in he
en i onmen using Canine Teams and
GPS acked ul u es.
C oa ia
Awa eness aising ac i i ies:
Signi ican e o s need o be made o-
wa ds aising awa eness o he gene al
public and go e nmen al au ho i ies o
he magni ude o he p oblem wi h illegal
poisoning and add essing he con lic be-
ween social g oups in ol ed is a way o
p e en poisoning. I he speci ic d i e s
o he use o poison bai s a e elimina -
ed, hen he inciden s o poisoning will
be educed. Awa eness aising ac i i ies
should also ocus on he impo ance o e-
po ing po en ial poisoning e en s o he
ele an au ho i ies.
Conduc en i onmen al educa ion cam-
paigns a ge ing all s akeholde s ele an
o po en ial use o poison bai s and sub-
s ances in he en i onmen . These cam-
paigns should s ess he impac o poi-
sons on h ea ened species and human
heal h isks, plus he penal ies which can
apply, as well as he bene i s o he p es-
ence o p eda o s and sca enge s in he
ecosys em.
Ad oca e be e law en o cemen , adap a ion
and imp o emen o cu en na ional legal
amewo k:
Adop Na ional An i-poisoning Road Map,
ele an o he speci ic issues occu ing in
he coun y, and ad oca e o i s inco po-
a ion in o he na ional legisla ion.
S anda d ope a ional p o ocols o in es-
iga ion p ocedu es, conduc ion o o en-
sic nec opsy and oxicological analysis o
poisoning inciden s a e needed o acili-
a ing he wo k o ele an go e nmen al
au ho i ies esponsible o dealing wi h
his ype o en i onmen al c ime.
Ad oca e o he en o cemen o he min-
is e ial decision o e adica e in oduced
and in asi e game animals on island eco-
sys ems, as con lic s wi h hose animals
a e he main eason o he use o poison,
which h ea ens he emaining G i on
Vul u e popula ion in he coun y.
Inc ease and imp o e ele an in o ma ion
abou wildli e poisoning:
Da a om C oa ia ha e been in eg a ed
in o he egional Poison Inciden Da a-
base which enables he use o assess
he scope and se e i y o wildli e poison-
ing, as well as o de ine po en ial ho spo s
o hese illegal ac i i ies and plan app o-
p ia e conse a ion ac ions. E o s need
o be in es ed in o collec ion o any a ail-
able da a abou poisoning and documen-
a ion o po en ial poisoning e en s.
Capaci y building and ne wo king:
E o s a e needed owa ds capaci y
building and aining o legal and echni-
cal pe sonnel and law en o cemen o i-
ce s o he go e nmen al au ho i ies e-
la ed o his ma e . T aining anging om
de ec ion o poison bai s and poisoned
animals in he ield, conduc ion o oxico-
logical analysis o p osecu ion and legal
p oceeding o poisoning inciden s a e es-
sen ial.
Encou age imp o emen o coope a ion
and coo dina ion be ween a ious sec o s
in ol ed, including expe s o he En i on-
men al au ho i ies, public p osecu o s,
law en o cemen o ice s, en i onmen al
CSOs, hun ing associa ions, a ming as-
socia ions and he media.
Se up channels o luid exchange o in-
o ma ion wi h he law en o cemen o i-
cials, Public P osecu o s’ O ice wi h o h-
e ele an go e nmen al au ho i ies and
CSOs o coo dina e join ac ion.
98
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
G eece
Na u e conse a ion o ganiza ions in G eece
ha e been e y ac i e in comba ing wildli e poi-
soning, including he use o se e al Canine
Teams, es ablishmen o a na ional Task Fo ce
de o ed o comba ing wildli e poisoning and a
cen alized da abase o wildli e poisoning, which
has been expanded o o he coun ies om he
egion. They ha e also lobbied and ad oca ed
o he endo semen o laws and species ac ions
plans ha add ess he p oblem o poison bai use.
The cou se o implemen a ion o p ojec s and
conse a ion ini ia i es ela ed o educing he
h ea o poisoning o ul u es and o he a ec ed
species ha e de ined he ollowing ac i i ies as
p io i y ac ions o be de eloped and implemen ed
in he u u e.
Ad oca e be e law en o cemen , adap a ion
and imp o emen o cu en na ional legal
amewo k:
De elop ope a ional p o ocols o espon-
sible au ho i ies ela ed o managemen
o wildli e poisoning cases, esponsibil-
i ies and ju isdic ion o all esponsible
go e nmen al ins i u ions and ad oca e
o hei o icial endo semen by ele an
go e nmen al au ho i ies.
Ad oca e o imp o emen and upg ade
o he MD o Local Ac ion Plans agains
wildli e poisoning o JMD as well as he
o icial go e nmen al endo semen o a
Na ional An i-poisoning s a egy.
Ad oca e o mo e e icien managemen
o poisoning inciden s by go e nmen al
au ho i ies: In mos cases, he compe-
en au ho i ies do no deal wi h poisoning
e en s due o lack o s a , expe ise, and
awa eness o he p oblem.
Ad oca e o in oduc ion o s ic e and
he ie ines and penal sanc ions o pe -
pe a o s ound guil y o wildli e poisoning
in o he exis ing na ional legisla ion as an
impo an de e en measu e agains his
illegal p ac ice.
Capaci y building and ne wo king:
E o s a e needed owa ds capaci y
building and aining o legal and echnical
pe sonnel and law en o cemen o ice s
o he go e nmen al au ho i ies ela ed o
his ma e . T aining anging om de ec-
ion o poison bai s and poisoned animals
in he ield, conduc ion o nec opsies and
oxicological analysis o p osecu ion and
legal p oceeding o poisoning inciden s
a e essen ial.
Imp o emen o exis ing human esou c-
es, in as uc u es and equipmen o he
e e en na ional oxicological labo a o-
y, ec ui ing addi ional s a , pa icula ly
o o ensic nec opsies. Es ablish a new,
second, e e en oxicological labo a o y
in he no h o G eece o be able o p o-
cess mo e poisoning inciden s.
Encou age imp o emen o coope a ion
and coo dina ion be ween a ious sec o s
in ol ed, including expe s o he En i on-
men al au ho i ies, public p osecu o s,
law en o cemen o ice s, en i onmen al
CSOs, hun ing associa ions, a ming as-
socia ions and he media.
Se up channels o luid exchange o in-
o ma ion wi h he law en o cemen o i-
cials, Public P osecu o s’ O ice wi h o h-
e ele an go e nmen al au ho i ies and
CSOs o coo dina e join ac ion.
Ac i e conse a ion measu es:
Inc ease e o s o p omo e and en o ce
applica ion o p e en i e measu es:
g an ing subsidies o elec ic ences is
ecommended in o de o p o ec li e-
s ock capi al om wildli e p eda ion, as
well as o usage o G eek shephe d dogs
as li es ock gua ds.
Imp o e he compensa ion sys em o
damages o c op p oduc ion and li e-
s ock.
Inc ease e o s owa ds wa ding: In poi-
son ho spo a eas o hose ha hos spe-
cies ulne able o poisoning join pa ols
should be ca ied ou sys ema ically by
wa dens, gamekeepe s and ange s o
99
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
he managemen bodies o p o ec ed a -
eas in o de o de e people om using
hem as well as o inc ease chances o lo-
ca ing poison bai s o poisoned animals.
Awa eness aising ac i i ies:
Signi ican e o s need o be made o-
wa ds aising awa eness o he gene al
public and go e nmen al au ho i ies o
he magni ude o he p oblem wi h illegal
poisoning and add essing he con lic
be ween social g oups in ol ed is a way
o p e en poisoning. I he d i e s o he
use o poison bai s a e elimina ed, hen
he inciden s o poisoning will be educed.
Conduc en i onmen al educa ion cam-
paigns a ge ing all s akeholde s ele an
o po en ial use o poison bai s and sub-
s ances in he en i onmen . These cam-
paigns should s ess he impac o poi-
sons on h ea ened species and human
heal h isks, plus he penal ies which can
apply, as well as he bene i s o he p es-
ence o p eda o s and sca enge s in he
ecosys em.
No h Macedonia
Ad oca e be e law en o cemen , adap a ion
and imp o emen o cu en na ional legal
amewo k:
Adop ion o he Na ional An i-poisoning
Road Map, ele an o he speci ic issues
occu ing in he coun y, and ad oca e o
i s inco po a ion in he na ional legisla-
ion.
S anda d ope a ional p o ocols o in es-
iga ion p ocedu es, conduc ion o o en-
sic nec opsy and oxicological analysis o
poisoning inciden s a e needed o acili-
a ing he wo k o ele an go e nmen al
au ho i ies esponsible o dealing wi h
his ype o en i onmen al c ime.
De elop Acc edi ed p o ocols/S anda d
Ope a ional P ocedu es (SOP) and secu-
i y measu es in sampling and p ocessing
poisoned animals.
De elopmen o o ganized sys ems and
p o ocols ela ed o epo ing, collec ing
and disposal o dead animals is needed.
Designa e a e e en labo a o y, wi hin
exis ing ins i u ions, o p ocessing cases
o wildli e poisoning and conduc ion o o-
ensic oxicological analysis.
Awa eness aising ac i i ies:
Signi ican e o s need o be made o-
wa ds aising awa eness o he gene al
public and go e nmen al au ho i ies o
he magni ude o he p oblem wi h illegal
poisoning and add essing he con lic
be ween social g oups in ol ed is a way
o p e en poisoning. I he d i e s o he
use o poison bai s a e elimina ed, hen
he inciden s o poisoning will be educed.
Conduc en i onmen al educa ion cam-
paigns a ge ing all s akeholde s ele an
o po en ial use o poison bai s and sub-
s ances in he en i onmen . These cam-
paigns should s ess he impac o poi-
sons on h ea ened species and human
heal h isks, he impo ance o epo ing
po en ial poisoning e en s o he ele an
au ho i ies, de e en measu es o eseen
unde he na ional legisla ion, as well as
he bene i s o he p esence o p eda o s
and sca enge s in he ecosys em.
Capaci y building and ne wo king:
E o s a e needed owa ds capaci y build-
ing and aining o legal and echnical pe -
sonnel and law en o cemen o ice s o he
go e nmen al au ho i ies ela ed o his
ma e . T aining anging om de ec ion o
poison bai s and poisoned animals in he
ield, conduc ion o oxicological analysis
o p osecu ion and legal p oceeding o poi-
soning inciden s a e essen ial.
Encou age imp o emen o coope a ion
and coo dina ion be ween a ious sec-
o s in ol ed, including expe s o he
En i onmen al au ho i ies, public p os-
ecu o s, law en o cemen o ice s, en i-
onmen al NGOs, hun ing associa ions,
a ming associa ions and he media.
100
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Se up channels o luid exchange o in-
o ma ion wi h he law en o cemen o i-
cials, Public P osecu o s’ O ice wi h o h-
e ele an go e nmen al au ho i ies and
NGOs o coo dina e join ac ion.
Se bia
Ad oca e be e law en o cemen , adap a ion
and imp o emen o cu en na ional legal
amewo k:
Adop ion o he Na ional An i-poisoning
Road Map, ele an o he speci ic issues
occu ing in he coun y, and ad oca e o
i s inco po a ion in he na ional legisla-
ion.
S anda d ope a ional p o ocols o in es-
iga ion p ocedu es, conduc ion o o en-
sic nec opsy and oxicological analysis o
poisoning inciden s a e needed o acili-
a ing he wo k o ele an go e nmen al
au ho i ies esponsible o dealing wi h
his ype o en i onmen al c ime.
Ad oca e o en o cemen o s ic e de-
e ence measu es, such as highe penal
and c iminal penal ies.
Ad oca e o mo e e icien managemen
o poisoning inciden s by go e nmen al
au ho i ies: In mos cases, he compe-
en au ho i ies do no deal wi h poisoning
e en s due o lack o s a , expe ise, and
awa eness o he p oblem.
Awa eness aising ac i i ies:
Con inue wi h conduc ing awa eness
aising ac i i ies and media campaigns
owa ds he gene al public and go e n-
men al au ho i ies o he magni ude o he
p oblem wi h illegal poisoning and he im-
po ance o epo ing po en ial poisoning
e en o he ele an au ho i ies.
Conduc en i onmen al educa ion cam-
paigns a ge ing all s akeholde s ele an
o po en ial use o poison bai s and sub-
s ances in he en i onmen . These cam-
paigns should s ess he impac o poi-
sons on h ea ened species and human
heal h isks, plus he penal ies which can
apply, as well as he bene i s o he p es-
ence o p eda o s and sca enge s in he
ecosys em.
Capaci y building and ne wo king:
E o s a e needed owa ds capaci y
building and aining o legal and echni-
cal pe sonnel and law en o cemen o i-
ce s o he go e nmen al au ho i ies e-
la ed o his ma e . T aining anging om
de ec ion o poison bai s and poisoned
animals in he ield, conduc ion o oxico-
logical analysis o p osecu ion and legal
p oceeding o poisoning inciden s a e es-
sen ial.
Encou age imp o emen o coope a ion
and coo dina ion be ween a ious sec-
o s in ol ed, including expe s o he
En i onmen al au ho i ies, public p os-
ecu o s, law en o cemen o ice s, en i-
onmen al NGOs, hun ing associa ions,
a ming associa ions and he media.
Se up channels o luid exchange o in-
o ma ion wi h he law en o cemen o i-
cials, Public P osecu o s’ O ice wi h o h-
e ele an go e nmen al au ho i ies and
NGOs o coo dina e join ac ion.
Ac i e conse a ion measu es:
Inc ease e o s owa ds wa ding: In poi-
son ho spo a eas o hose ha hos spe-
cies ulne able o poisoning join pa ols
should be ca ied ou sys ema ically by
wa dens, gamekeepe s and ange s o
he managemen bodies o p o ec ed a -
eas in o de o de e people om using
hem as well as o inc ease chances o lo-
ca ing poison bai s o poisoned animals.
101
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
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Aegypiinae in Cen al Balkans. Ac as del II Con-
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E., Role ski, D. & Ande ski, J. (2007): The de-
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Annexes.
104
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Annex I. O e iew o poisoning inciden s in Albania con i med by oxicological analysis.
Species
No. o
poisoned
indi iduals
Da e/Pe iod Loca ion Type o poi-
soning Main d i e Subs ance
Eu asian Wol 6 2007* Kukes in en ional
con lic wi h p ed-
a o s/p o ec ion o
li es ock
S ychnine
Eu asian Wol 3 2018* Tepelene unknown unknown O ganic phos-
pha es
Eu asian B own
bea 42019* Puke in en ional
con lic wi h p ed-
a o s/p o ec ion o
beehi es
O ganic phos-
pha es
Red Fox; Ca s 1; 4 08.06.2020. Ka ajë in en ional con lic wi h oxes Me homyl
90 sp
Red Fox; Pe dogs;
Ca s 1; 1; 1 14.06.2020. Ka ajë in en ional con lic wi h oxes Me homyl
90 sp
* numbe o poisoned animals ela es o he pe iod o he en i e yea , no jus one single poisoning
inciden ;
Annex II. O e iew o poisoning inciden s in Bulga ia con i med by oxicological analysis.
Species
No. o
poisoned
indi iduals
Da e/Pe-
iod Loca ion Type o
poisoning Main d i e Subs ance
Wol , Wild boa ,
Ra en 1, 1, 4 2001 Tse o o, Blago-
e g ad in en ional Con lic s wi h
wol es Lindane
Wol 8 2003 K andjili sa, Pe ich in en ional Con lic s wi h
wol es S ychnine
G i on Vul u e 2 16.04.2003 S uden Kladene s,
K umo g ad Unknown Con lic s wi h
wol es Zink phospha e
G i on Vul u e 105.05.2003 Le o nik, Momchil-
g ad unknown con lic s wi h wol es O ganophos-
pha e
Pa idge 1 22.06.2004 Blagoe g ad inciden al ag icul u e O ganophos-
pha e
ANNEXES
105
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Species
No. o
poisoned
indi iduals
Da e/Pe-
iod Loca ion Type o
poisoning Main d i e Subs ance
Common S a ling 12 15.11.2004 S a a Zago a inciden al ag icul u e Ca bo u an
Common Buz-
za d 2 11.12.2004 Topolo g ad inciden al ag icul u e Zink phospha e
Goshawk 1 15.12.2004 Topolo g ad inciden al ag icul u e Ca bama e/ O -
ganophospha e
Egyp ian Vul u e 2 2004 Jenda, Ka dzhali unknown Con lic s wi h
wol es
Ca bama e/ O -
ganophospha e
Impe ial Eagle 1 2004 Yambol, Bolya o o unknown unknown O ganophos-
pha e
Hen ha ie 1 15.01.2005 Topolo g ad inciden al ag icul u e Ca bama e/ O -
ganophospha e
Common Buz-
za d 116.01.2005 Du ankulak, Do-
b ich inciden al ag icul u e Ca bama e
Common S a ling 8 15.02.2005 Plo di inciden al ag icul u e Ca bama e/ O -
ganophospha e
Golden Eagle 2 14.12.2005 Pi dop in en ional Con lic s wi h
wol es Zink phospha e
G i on Vul u e 114.01.2006 S uden Kladene s,
K umo g ad unknown Con lic wi h wol es Ca bama e/ O -
ganophospha e
Black S o k 2Ma ch,
2006 Ka ina, So ia inciden al ag icul u e Ca bama e/ O -
ganophospha e
Impe ial Eagle 1 05.06.2006 Topolo g ad inciden al ag icul u e oden icide
Whi e S o k 1 June, 2006 Simi li inciden al ag icul u e Ca bama e/ O -
ganophospha e
Common Buz-
za d 1Decembe ,
2006 Paza djik inciden al ag icul u e Ca bama e/ O -
ganophospha e
Common Buz-
za d 15 19.01.2007 Belozem inciden al ag icul u e oden icides
Common Buz-
za d, Ba n Owl,
Tawny Owl
5, 3, 3 Feb ua y ,
2007
Along T akia High-
way, nea Plo di inciden al ag icul u e
Ca bama e/ O -
ganophospha e
Golden Eagle,
Ra en, Golden
Jackal
1, 1, 9 17.03.2007 Shilko sii, Elena in en ional Killing o Jackals
Ca bama e/ O -
ganophospha e
Pa idge, Com-
mon Buzz ad,
Pe eg ine
20, 12, 1 Ap il, 2007 nea Paza djik in en ional Killing o Jackals Lanna e/ Me ho-
myl
B own Bea 1 June, 2007 Rozino in en ional
Killing o bea , wi h
con amina ed bee
honey
Ca bama e/ O -
ganophospha e
Egyp ian Vul u e 1 26.07.2007 Madzha o o,
Hasko o inciden al
Mos p obably ha e
ea en a ubbish
dump
Ca bama e/ O -
ganophospha e
B own Bea 1 July, 2007 Klisou a in en ional
Killing o bea , wi h
con amina ed bee
honey
Ammonium ni-
a e
Egyp ian Vul u e 1 16.10.2007 Madzha o o,
Hasko o unknown
Unknown, d y
co pse ound qui e
la e unde he nes
Ca bama e/ O -
ganophospha e
Wild Boa 1 09.05.2010 G ade o, Simi li in en ional Killing o wild boa in
po a o ield
Ca bama e/ O -
ganophospha e
Annex II. con .
112
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Species
No. o
poisoned
indi iduals
Da e/ Pe-
iod Loca ion Type o poi-
soning Main d i e Subs ance
Whi e- ailed Eagle 1 27.01.2016. Mošo in, Ti el unknown unknown Ca bo u an
Common Buzza d 6 22.02.2016. Čan a i ,
Subo ica in en ional con lic s wi h p ed-
a o s Ca bo u an
Whi e- ailed Eagle 219.02.2016. To a iše o,
Bačka Palanka unknown unknown Ca bo u an
Common Buzza d 3 03.03.2016. Sl. A adac,
Z enjanin unknown unknown Ca bo u an
Ma sh Ha ie ,
Common Buzza d 3, 1 15.03.2016. Hajduko o,
Subo ica in en ional con lic s wi h p ed-
a o s Ca bo u an
Whi e- ailed Eagle 226.03.2016. E de ik, Šid in en ional con lic s wi h p ed-
a o s Ca bo u an
Common Buzza d,
Ma sh Ha ie ,
Ra en
1, 1, 1 06.04.2016. Teme in unknown unknown Ca bo u an*
Common C ane 5 21.04.2016. No i Kneže ac unin en ional misuse o pes icides
in ag icul u e Ca bo u an
Common Buzza d 1 27.12.2016. Bačka Topola unknown unknown Ca bo u an
Red Ki e 102.11.2017. Ri iše o in en ional con lic s wi h p ed-
a o s Ca bo u an
Pe eg ine Falcon 1 29.11.2017. No iSad, G -
ba ica in en ional con lic s wi h bi ds o
p ey Ca bo u an
Whi e- ailed Eagle,
Common Buzza d,
Ra en
2, 4, 3 17.12.2017. Vi ije ci, Ruma unin en ional con lic s wi h p ed-
a o s Ca bo u an
Common Buzza d 1 18.12.2017. Bačka Palanka unknown unknown Ca bo u an
Whi e- ailed Eagle,
Common Buzza d 2, 1 21.12.2017. Vi oje ci unknown unknown Ca bo u an
Impe ial Eagle 1 08.01.2018. S iloje o, Ap-
a in unin en ional con lic s wi h p ed-
a o s Ca bo u an
Common Buzza d,
Magpie 5, 2 11.01.2018. S iloje o, Ap-
a in unin en ional con lic s wi h p ed-
a o s Ca bo u an
Whi e- ailed Eagle,
Common Buzza d,
Magpie
2, 1, 1 14.01.2018. S iloje o, Ap-
a in in en ional con lic s wi h p ed-
a o s Ca bo u an
Whi e- ailed Eagle 201.02.2018. Vi oje ci unknown con lic s wi h p ed-
a o s Ca bo u an
Annex VI. con .
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Species
No. o
poisoned
indi iduals
Da e/ Pe-
iod Loca ion Type o poi-
soning Main d i e Subs ance
Ma sh Ha ie 1 23.05.2019. No o O aho o unknown unknown Ca bo u an
Common S a ling,
Colla ed do e,
Fe al pigeon
22, 10, 55 16.10.2018. V šac unin en ional misuse o pes icides
in ag icul u e Ca bo u an
Magpie 217.07.2019. S bob an in en ional con lic s wi h s ay
dogs Ca bo u an
Common Buzza d 1 25.10.2019. No o O aho o unknown unknown Ca bo u an
Whi e- ailed Eagle 1 25.02.2020. unknown unknown unknown Ca bo u an
Ma sh Ha ie 213.4.2020. Bačka Topola unknown unknown Ca bo u an
Common C ane 5 21.4.2020 No i Kneže ac unin en ional misuse o pes icides
in ag icul u e Ca bo u an
Golden Jackal 113.1.2021. Dobano ci in en ional con lic s wi h p ed-
a o s Ca bo u an
* Poison de ec ed in he bai ;
Annex VII. Ques ionnai e abou eco ded wildli e poisoning and p esumable poisoning e en s.
QUESTIONNAIRE
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION
Coun y:
O ganisa ion:
Add ess:
Telephone:
E- mail:
Webpage:
Name and posi ion o pe son p o iding
he in o ma ion:
E-mail o he pe son p o iding he in o -
ma ion:
Annex VI. con .
114
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Q1. Please speci y o he bes o you knowledge how many wildli e poisoning inciden s (WPI)
a e you awa e o ha ha e occu ed in you coun y, hei loca ion, species a ec ed, and o he
ele an in o ma ion p esen ed in he able below.
WPI Da e/Pe-
iod
Loca ion
(GPS coo di-
na es i a ail-
able)
Species
a ec ed
No. o poi-
soned indi-
iduals
Type o
poisoning
(in en ional,
inciden al,
unknown)
Main d i e
(con lic wi h
p eda o s, s ay
dogs, o he wild-
li e, e c.)
Subs ance
used
1
2
3
4
5
* please add new ows o mo e WPIs i needed;
Q2. Please speci y o he bes o you knowledge o how many wildli e poisoning inciden s in
you coun y ha e o icial nec opsies been conduc ed on wild animals which we e suspec ed
o ha e died om poisoning o inges ing poison bai s. (please use he same numbe ing o he
inciden s as in he able abo e)
WPI Species
Cause o dea h/
nec opsy esul s
Name o e e en ins i u ion
* please add new ows o mo e WPIs i needed;
Q3. Please speci y o he bes o you knowledge o how many wildli e poisoning inciden s in
you coun y ha e oxicological analysis been conduc ed, ei he on dead animals o on poison
bai s. (please use he same numbe ing o he inciden s as in he able unde Q2.)
WPI
Sample
(animal species o poison
bai )
Tes ed subs ances Con i med subs ances Name o e e en
labo a o y
* please add new ows o mo e WPIs i needed;
115
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Q4. Please speci y o he bes o you knowledge how many wildli e poisoning inciden s
in you coun y ha e o icially been p osecu ed by he public p osecu o ’s o ice and ha e
eached cou ials. (please use he same numbe ing o he inciden s as in he able unde Q2.)
Q5. Please speci y o he bes o you knowledge o how many wildli e poisoning inciden s
in you coun y ha e cou ulings been deli e ed. (please use he same numbe ing o he
inciden s as in he able unde Q2.)
116
STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Con ibu o in o ma ion o ele an go e nmen al ins i u ions
Coun y:
Ins i u ion:
Add ess:
Telephone:
E- mail:
Webpage:
Name and posi ion o pe son p o iding
he in o ma ion:
E-mail o he pe son p o iding he
in o ma ion:
Annex VIII. Ques ionnai e o a ge audiences in local communi ies.
QUESTIONNAIRE
P1. Based on you knowledge, do he ollowing ul u e species b eed in …
coun y…? Please answe wi h yes, no o I don' know.
1. Yes 2. No 3. I do no
know, I
am no
in o med
1. G i on Vul u e
2. Tu key Vul u e
3. Cine eous Vul u e
4. King Vul u e
5. Egyp ian Vul u e
P2. Do you know which ypes o ood do ul u es in …coun y… use om
he ypes lis ed below? Please answe wi h yes, no o I don' know.
1. Yes 2. No 3. I do no
know, I
am no
in o med
1. Ca casses o wild animals
2. Ca casses o domes ic animals
3. Hun ed la ge mammals
4. Hun ed oden s
5. Hun ed domes ic animals
6. Hun ed insec s
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
Wha is endange ing he ul u e popula ions in …coun y.. he mos ?
Read he answe s om 1-6. Ro a e he answe s om 1-6. When you ead he lis say: o some o he
cause which we ha en’ s a ed?
1. Lack o ood
2. Dis u bance
3. Wildli e poisoning
4. Poaching
5. Acciden al elec ocu ion o collision wi h powe cables
6. Ex ensi e use o legal oxic compounds (pes icides, insec icides, oden icides)
7. O he , wha ?_________
98. Doesn’ know (don’ ead)
99. Re uses o answe (don’ ead)
P3. How would you e alua e you own knowledge abou he issue o wildli e poisoning on a
scale om 1 o 5, 5 being excellen knowledge.
1 2 3 4 5 6 (Don’ know / can no e alua e)
P4. Wha do you hink, om which o he causes lis ed below do ul u es ge poisoned he
mos ?
1. om poison bai s in ended o ul u es
2. om poison bai s in ended o o he animals
3. because hey consume poisoned animals
4. because hey ge poisoned by pes icide
5. Some o he cause, which?
98. Doesn’ know
99. Re uses o answe
P5. Do you ag ee wi h he ollowing s a e-
men s? Exp ess you pe sonal a i ude owa ds
each s a emen using he ollowing scale: (1) I
disag ee comple ely, (2) I mos ly disag ee, (3) I
nei he ag ee no disag ee, (4) I mos ly ag ee, (5) I
comple ely ag ee
1. I dis-
ag ee
com-
ple ely
2. I
mos ly
disag ee
3. I
nei he
ag ee
no dis-
ag ee
4. I
mos ly
ag ee
5. I com-
ple ely
ag ee
98. I
don'
know
(do no
ead)
1. Vul u es ha e impo an oles o human ac i i ies 1 23 4 5 98
2. The g ea es alue o ul u es such as he G i on
Vul u e is he ac ha i is a ou is a ac ion 123 4 5 98
3. Vul u e numbe s would inc ease i we would sim-
ply lea e hem alone. 123 4 5 98
4. Vul u es ha e an impo an ole in he ecosys em 1 23 4 5 98
5. Wild animals ha e/play an impo an ole o hu-
man ac i i ies 123 4 5 98
6. Poisoning wild animals is some imes jus i ied 123 4 5 98
7. Go e nmen s/Coun ies should conduc con olled
poisoning o wild animals on hei own 123 4 5 98
8. Wildli e poisoning is only a p oblem when i poses
a h ea o people/humans 123 4 5 98
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
P6. Wildli e poisoning/Poisoning o wild animals in …coun y… can occu in en ionally o
unin en ionally, wi h legal o illegal poisoning subs ances. Acco ding o you opinion, how does
wildli e poisoning mos commonly occu ?
1. In en ionally, wi h illegal poisons om he black ma ke
2. In en ionally, by misuse o legal poisoning subs ances (pes icides, insec icides...)
3. Acciden ly, by misuse o legal poisoning subs ances ou o negligence/igno ance
P7. Wha do you hink, how o en a e peo-
ple om he ollowing g oups esponsible o
wildli e poisoning in ..coun y..? Please e alua e
using a scale o 1-4, whe e 1 means „o en“, 2
„occasionally“, 3 „ a ely“, and 4 „ne e “.
1. o en 2. occa-
sionally 3. a ely 4. ne e
98.
I don’
know (do
no ead)
1. Li es ock b eede s 1 23 4 98
2. Hun e s 123 4 98
3. Fa me s 1 23 4 98
4. Beekeepe s 1 23 4 98
5. Pigeon ancie s/b eede s 1 23 4 98
6. Indi iduals who delibe a ely poison animals sim-
ply because hey like killing hings 123 4 98
P8. Acco ding o you assessmen , how o -
en is each o he below lis ed mo i es behind he
poisoning o wild animals in…coun y..? Please
e alua e using a scale o 1-4, whe e 1 means „o -
en“, 2 „occasionally“, 3 „ a ely“, and 4 „ne e “.
1. o en 2.occasion-
ally 3. a ely 4. ne e
98. I don’
know (do
no ead)
1. P o ec ion o pas u es and li es ock om wild ani-
mals (wol es, bea s, e c.) 123 4 98
2. P o ec ion o ag icul u al land om wild animals 123 4 98
3. P o ec ion o ag icul u al land om bi ds o p ey 1 23 4 98
4. P o ec ion o pigeons om bi ds o p ey 1 23 4 98
5. P o ec ion o apia ies om bea s 1 23 4 98
6. Con lic s among people abou land use (pas u es,
hun ing a eas) 123 4 98
7. P o ec ion o hun ing ac i i ies 1 23 4 98
8. P o ec ion om s ay dogs and ca s 123 4 98
9. P o ec ion om pes s ( a s, insec s e a .) 1 23 4 98
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P9. Acco ding o you assessmen , in which egions o .,,coun y,,,, a e wild animals mos
equen ly poisoned?
(Please choose one o he answe s below)
1. Voj odina
2. Eas and Sou h Se bia
3. Wes Se bia and Šumadija
4. Belg ade
98. Doesn’ know (do no ead)
99. Re uses o answe (don’ ead)
P10. Acco ding o you assessmen , in wha pe iod o he yea does wildli e poisoning mos ly
occu in ...coun y...? Please choose one o mo e seasons.
1. Sp ing
2. Summe
3. Au umn
4. Win e
98. Doesn’ know (do no ead)
99. Re uses o answe (don’ ead)
P11. To wha ex en do you ag ee
wi h he ollowing s a emen s ela ed
o epo ing poisoning inciden s o
he ele an au ho i ies? Please ex-
p ess you pe sonal a i ude owa ds
each s a emen using he ollowing
scale: (1) I disag ee comple ely, (2)
I mos ly disag ee, (3) I nei he ag ee
no disag ee, (4) I mos ly ag ee, (5) I
comple ely ag ee
1. I dis-
ag ee
comple e-
ly
2. I mos ly
disag ee
3. I nei he
ag ee no
disag ee
4. I mos ly
ag ee
5. I com-
ple ely
ag ee
98.I don’
know (do
no ead)
1. People/ci izens do no know who o
epo animal poisoning inciden s
o
123 4 5 98
2. I is known which indi iduals
poison animals in his a ea, i is a
„public sec e “
123 4 5 98
3. E e y pe son should epo o he
police any in o ma ion/knowledge
abou wildli e poisoning
123 4 5 98
4. Hun e s should epo o he police
in o ma ion/knowledge abou wild-
li e poisoning mo e o en
123 4 5 98
5. Ve e ina ians should epo o he
police in o ma ion/knowledge
abou wildli e poisoning mo e o en
123 4 5 98
6. People who epo someone om
hei communi y o poisoning wild
animals isk al e ca ions and con-
lic s in hei communi y
123 4 5 98
7. Poisoning mos ly akes place in
emo e loca ions and he e o e he
pe pe a o s a e a ely iden i ied
123 4 5 98
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
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P12. Wha o he ollowing would you do i you had in o ma ion abou poisoning? Read he
answe s 1-3. Ro a e he answe s 1-3.
1. I wouldn’ epo i o he police
2. I would epo i o he police bu only i i i would no ha e any nega i e consequences o me
3. I would epo i o he police e en i I knew ha i migh ha e nega i e consequences o me
98. Doesn’ know (do no ead)
99. Re uses o answe (don’ ead)
Ques ion only asked i P13 is answe ed 1 o 2
P13a. I you would no epo i , which o he ollowing would be he main eason?
Read he answe s 1- 3. Ro a e he answe s 1- 3. When you ead he lis say: o some o he eason
which we ha en’ s a ed.
1. Because he e a e enough o he people wo ying abou ha
2. No o come in o con lic wi h people om my en i onmen /communi y
3. Because he e is no hing in i o me
4. F om some o he eason, which__________
99. Re uses o answe (don’ ead)
P13. Do you know o a leas one poisoning inciden s wi h animals in you en i onmen /
communi y o he pas 10 yea s, apa om de a ion:
1. Yes
2. No
Ques ion asked only o P14 answe ed „Yes“
P14a. Wha was i abou ?
/ins uc ion: don’ ead he answe s, le he esponden say i on his own and ma k /
Ma k
1. Mass poisoning o bi ds om pes icides
2. Using explosi es o ishing
3. Someone in en ionally poisoned wild animals ou side o se lemen s because hey bo he ed
hem in some way
4. Someone in en ionally poisoned any ype o animal (wild animals, s ay dogs o ca s, bi ds o
p ey) in se lemen s/ inhabi ed a eas because hey bo he ed hem in some way
5. Any p o ec ed species acciden ally poisoned
6. One o mo e ul u es acciden ally poisoned
7. O he . Wha ?_________
Ques ion asked only o P14 answe ed „Yes“
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P14b. Ha e you pe sonally o anyone om you communi y had an animal poisoned? I
so, which?
/ ins uc ion: don’ ead he answe s, le he esponden say i on his own and ma k /
Ma k
8. Pe
9. Gua d dog o shephe d dog
10. Hun ing dog
11. Domes ic animal (pigs, poul y e al.)
12. Bees
13. Pigeons
14. Some o he animals. Which?
15. No, I ne e had such an expe ience.
P14. In which g oup o people is i mos impo an o aise awa eness abou wildli e poisoning?
Please, choose one answe . Read he answe s 1-5. Ro a e he answe s 1-5. When you ead he lis say:
o some o he g oup which we ha en’ s a ed.
1. Ci izens in gene al
2. Hun e s
3. Game wa dens
4. Li es ock b eede s
5. Fa me s
6. O he g oups. Which?_____
98. Doesn’ know (do no ead)
99. Re uses o answe (don’ ead)
P15. How impo an would you a e wildli e poisoning in es iga ions, compa ed o o he
police wo k? Exp ess you pe sonal a i ude using he ollowing scale: (1) comple ely i ele an ,
(2) mos ly i ele an , (3) nei he i ele an no impo an , (4) mos ly impo an , (5) ex emely
impo an .
1. Comple ely i ele an
2. Mos ly i ele an
3. Nei he i ele an no impo an
4. Mos ly impo an
5. Ex emely impo an
6. Doesn’ know (do no ead)
99. Re uses o answe (don’ ead)
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
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P11.To wha ex en do you ag ee wi h he ol-
lowing s a emen s ela ed o epo ing
poisoning inciden s o he ele an au ho -
i ies?
1. I com-
ple ely
disag ee
2. I
mos ly
disag ee
3. I
nei he
ag ee
no dis-
ag ee
4. I
mos ly
ag ee
5. I com-
ple ely
ag ee
1. People/ci izens do no know who o epo
animal poisoning inciden s o
2. I is known which indi iduals poison animals
in his a ea, i is a „public sec e “
3. E e y pe son should epo o he police any
in o ma ion/knowledge abou wildli e poison-
ing
4. Hun e s should epo o he police in o ma-
ion/knowledge abou wildli e poisoning mo e
o en
5. Ve e ina ians should epo o he police in-
o ma ion/knowledge abou wildli e poisoning
mo e o en
6. People who epo someone om hei com-
muni y o poisoning wild animals isk al e ca-
ions and con lic s in hei communi y
7. Poisoning mos ly akes place in emo e loca-
ions and he e o e he pe pe a o s a e a ely
iden i ied
P12.In which g oup o people is i mos impo an o aise awa eness abou wildli e poisoning?
(Please choose one answe )
1. Ci izens in gene al
2. Hun e s
3. Game wa dens
4. Li es ock b eede s
5. Fa me s
6. O he g oups. Which?
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
P13.Do you ag ee wi h he ollowing s a emen s,
ela ed o in es iga ion o wildli e poisoning
inciden s?
1. I dis-
ag ee
com-
ple ely
2.
I mos ly
dis-
ag ee
3. I
nei he
ag ee
no dis-
ag ee
4.
I mos ly
ag ee
5. I com-
ple ely
ag ee
1. Specialized police uni s o en i onmen al
c ime, including wildli e poisoning, a e needed
2. Mo e people a e needed on he ield (police,
en i onmen al inspec o s, ange s e c.) o
imely de ec ion o poisoning inciden s
3. Game wa dens o o en ole a e unlaw ul p ac-
ices in hun ing a eas
4. Police should ha e specialized canine uni s o
de ec ing poisonous subs ances used o wild-
li e poisoning
5. Lack o coo dina ion among ele an ins i u-
ions is a bigge p oblem han lack o esou ces
6. In …coun y.. he e a e su icien labo a o ies
wi h enough capaci ies o conduc needed oxi-
cological analyses
P14.Do you ag ee wi h he ollowing s a emen s,
ela ed o legisla ion and legal p ocessing
o poisoning inciden s?
1. I dis-
ag ee
com-
ple ely
2.
I mos ly
dis-
ag ee
3. I
nei he
ag ee
no dis-
ag ee
4.
I mos ly
ag ee
5. I com-
ple ely
ag ee
1. Public p osecu o s a e su icien ly educa ed o
managing inciden s ela ed o poisoning o wild
animals
2. The legal amewo k o punishing he p ac ice
o poisoning animals is good, bu he main
p oblem is law en o cemen
3. Ra ely a e ines imposed unde he Hun ing Ac
4. Exis ing legisla ion egula es biodi e si y p o-
ec ion well enough
P15.How would you e alua e he coope a ion be ween go e nmen al ins i u ions and ci il socie y
o ganiza ions ega ding da a collec ion abou poisoning inciden s on a scale om 1 o 5,
whe e 1 is “ e y bad”, and 5 “excellen coope a ion”:
1 2 3 4 5 (I do no know / I canno e alua e)
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
P16.The ollowing nex s a emen s ela e p ocedu es and documen-
a ion ela ed o wildli e poisoning. Acco ding o he bes o you
knowledge:
1. Yes 2. No
3. I do
no
know, I
am no
in o med
1. Is he e a da abase o poisoning inciden s o bi ds in …coun y..
2. Is he e a Na ional ac ion plan o comba ing wildli e poisoning in
place
3. Is he e a p o ocol de ining p ocedu es and ju isdic ions o in es i-
ga ing wildli e poisoning
/IF P17.1. = yes, P18 ques ion opens/
P17.Rela ed o da abase o poisoning inciden s: 1. Yes 2. No
3. I do
no know,
I am no
in o med
1. Is he e a clea p o ocol o documen ing poisoning inciden s in he
da abase
2. Do you e e use da a om he exis ing da abase o ca ying ou wo k
wi hin you ju isdic ion
3. Do you conside ha he exis ing da abase is adequa ely used o in-
o ming he public and aising hei awa eness abou he p oblem o
wildli e poisoning
IF P17.3. = yes, P19 ques ion opens/
P18.Rela ed o he p o ocol ha de ines p ocedu es and p o ocols
o in es iga ing wildli e poisoning: 1. Yes 2. No
3. I do no
know, I
am no
in o med
1. Is he exis ing p o ocol clea enough?
2. Acco ding o he p o ocol, mus he epo s abou poisoning inci-
den s include an impac analysis o a single poisoning inciden o he
en i onmen and biodi e si y?
3. Should he exis ing p o ocol be imp o ed?
I yes, how?________
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
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P19.To wha ex en do you ag ee wi h he ollowing
s a emen s, ela ed o punishmen o a ious
unlaw ul ac ions damaging o animals and he
en i onmen ?
1. I dis-
ag ee
com-
ple ely
2. I
mos ly
dis-
ag ee
3. I
nei he
ag ee
no dis-
ag ee
4. I
mos ly
ag ee
5. I
com-
ple ely
ag ee
1. All o ms o mass and non-disc imina i e killing
o animals ( apping, poisoning, explosi es e al.)
should be punished as se e ely as possible
2. Highe ines a e needed o e e y ype o poach-
ing/illegal shoo ing
3. P ison sen ences should no be adminis e ed
placing poison bai s unless people a e no pu in
dange , bu only animals
4. Range s o p o ec ed a eas should ha e he au-
ho i y o a es pe sons who poison animals, i
hey a e caugh in he ac
5. Sen ences o poisoning o animals should be only
adminis a i e ( inancial), bu no imp isonmen
6. Ha ing poison bai s should be a sepa a e o ense,
ega dless o whe he i has been p o en ha an
animal was killed
7. Poisoning o animals should be a c iminal o ense
only i i occu ed in a p o ec ed a ea (na u e pa k,
na ional pa k)
8. I poisoning o wild animals occu s in a comme -
cial hun ing a ea, he concessionai e should be
dep i ed o he concession
P20.To wha ex en do you ag ee wi h he ollowing
s a emen s, ela ed o he capaci ies o he
police.
1. I dis-
ag ee
com-
ple ely
2. I
mos ly
dis-
ag ee
3. I
nei he
ag ee
no dis-
ag ee
4. I
mos ly
ag ee
5. I
com-
ple ely
ag ee
1. Police in es iga ions abou wildli e poisoning need
expensi e and sophis ica ed echnology
2. The main is p oblem ha inciden s a e no epo -
ed o he police
3. The police is su icien ly equipped o in es iga ing
wildli e poisoning
4. The police is su icien ly educa ed o in es iga ing
inciden s wi h wild animals
5. Police in es iga ions abou wildli e poisoning
should include ep esen a i es o he ci il socie y
o ganiza ions
6. The police has be e hings o do and should no
was e esou ces on in es iga ing wildli e poison-
ing inciden s
7. The police do no ake se iously he need o
launch in es iga ions in o wildli e poisoning
8. Specialized police uni s should be in oduced o
deal wi h he c ime o wildli e poisoning
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P21.In police in es iga ions o wildli e poisoning i is necessa y o use:
Please ma k all he answe s you belie e o be co ec
(Fo ma : mul iple choice)
1. Fo ensic en omology
2. Toxicological analysis
3. Finge p in analysis
4. Fo ensic ballis ics
5. Fo ensic psychology
6. Canine uni s
7. Reco ds o sale o legal poisoning subs ances (pes icides, insec icides, oden icides…)
8. Con i ming ime o dea h o he animals
P22.Some o he means o p e en ing wildli e poi-
soning a e lis ed below. Acco ding o you
opinion, how impo an would i be o unde -
ake some o he lis ed measu es?
1.
Eni ely
i ele-
an
2.
Mos ly
unim-
po an
3. Nei-
he
impo -
an no
impo -
an
4. Mos -
ly im-
po an
5. Ex-
emely
impo -
an
1. Tha he s a e/go e nmen inancially compen-
sa es he damage o li es ock b eede s and a m-
e s, caused by wild animals
2. C ea e mo e supplemen a y eeding si es o ul-
u es
3. Be e p o ec wild ungula e popula ions
4. Ensu e li es ock b eede s and a me s a e p o id-
ed wi h ee shephe d and gua d dogs
5. Ensu e ee elec ic ences
6. Resol e issues o he owne ship o pas u es and
igh s o use hem
7. Comple ely ban logging in …coun y.. o some
ime
8. Wo k o educing he popula ions o alloch hone
animals
9. Wo k mo e on awa eness aising o he gene al
public
10. Wo k mo e on awa eness aising among key
s akeholde s (li es ock b eede s, a me s, hun -
e s, ins i u ions)
11. Impose a s ic e con ol o he ade o legal poi-
soning subs ances (pes icides, oden icides e al.)
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
P23.To wha ex en do you ag ee
wi h he ollowing s a e-
men s?
1. I dis-
ag ee com-
ple ely
2. I mos ly
disag ee
3. I nei he
ag ee no
disag ee
4. I mos ly
ag ee
5. I com-
ple ely
ag ee
1. The na u al balance is e y
delica e and easy o dis u b
2. Ea h is like a space ship,
wi h e y limi ed space and
esou ces
3. Plan s and animals ha e an
equal igh o exis jus like
humans
4. Humans a e des ined o ule
o e he es o na u e
P24. Do you wo k in
- Lis o he ins i u ions o which he ques ionnai e is sen
P25.Do you di ec ly deal wi h he issue o wildli e poisoning in you line o wo k?
1. No
2. Yes, bu only o domes ic animals
3. Yes, bo h o wild and domes ic animals
/IF P26 = No/
P26. Ha e you in any way been in ol ed in he issue o poisoning o animals in you line o wo k?
1. No
2. Yes, bu only o domes ic animals
3. Yes, bo h o wild and domes ic animals
P27. How would you e alua e you own knowledge abou he issue o wildli e poisoning on a scale
om 1 o 5, whe e 1 is “ e y bad” and 5 “excellen knowledge”.
1 2 3 4 5 (I do no know / I canno es ima e)
P28.Ha e you e e a ended any educa ional p og amme ela ed o de ec ion and p ocessing o
wildli e poisoning inciden s?
1. No
2. Yes
/Only o hose who answe ed yes/
P29a. Who o ganized he educa ional p og amme? _________________
P29.How many yea s o se ice do you ha e in he ins i u ion whe e you now wo k?
_________
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STUDY ABOUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF POISON
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA
P30. How many yea s o se ice do you ha e in he depa men you a e cu en ly wo king in?
_________
P31. Which o he ollowing bes desc ibes you cu en job posi ion?
1. Employee
2. Lowe managemen le el
3. Middle managemen le el
4. Uppe managemen le el
5. Highes managemen le el (di ec o o he ins i u ion, membe o he managemen boa d,
gene al di ec o )
6. Ex e nal associa e
7. O he . Wha ?
