Target: Razan Al Mubarak, President of International Union for Conservation of Nature
Goal: Confront crisis of wild bird egg theft that is further endangering hundreds of species.
Operation Pulko may sound like a phrase out of a spy movie, but for wild birds the stakes are very real. The long-term investigation targets a practice that has helped drive black market trading since the 19th century: the theft of wild bird eggs. In late 2024, a raid in the United Kingdom (UK) yielded over 6,000 eggs. In total, during the operation tens of thousands of eggs have been recovered from this still-thriving illegal trade.
Stealing wild bird eggs began as a novelty of collectors. In some cases, the birds are hatched, but the collection of rare eggs still drives much of the theft. The rarer – and often more endangered – a species, the greater the desire to obtain the eggs. These illegal trades have already contributed to the extinction of some species like the great auk. With so many species currently facing similar dangers now due to habitat destruction and climate change, these crimes only add to endangered animals’ peril.
Sign the petition below to compel a united effort to stop this existential threat.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mr. Mubarak,
While the theft and trade of wild bird eggs is considered a crime in many nations, these illegal practices are seemingly flourishing. Operation Pulko alone has seized more than 50,000 eggs in regions ranging from the United Kingdom to Australia. Investigators believe a single, well-connected criminal network is driving this activity.
As the organization committed to global wildlife conservation, please invest in resources to end an ongoing threat that is driving far too many species closer to the brink of extinction.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Pixabay
