The Civil Guard has initiated arrests and investigations targeting up to 58 individuals for offenses involving fauna crimes, document forgery, and fraud. Approximately half a million Japanese quail involved in hunting grounds are prohibited—this invasive exotic species is regulated to prevent ecological disruption and protect native wildlife.
Officials note that this operation marks the first time a criminal probe has examined activities tied to the release of invasive alien species, highlighting how interspecies competition can become a legal matter when it unfolds over time. The Civil Guard describes the issue as a deliberate and protracted trend identified in recent years.
Quail farming and marketing for human consumption are legitimate, yet investigators uncovered that some companies maintain parallel lines dedicated to releasing birds into game reserves and heavy game areas during hunting seasons, creating a potential misalignment between production and ecological safeguards.
up to 114 inspections
This operation, known as Guatlla, was coordinated by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Chamber of Environment and Urbanization, with three entities under investigation. It enabled as many as 114 inspections in two years, during which SEPRONA Civil Guard agents collected more than 300 biological samples to document the presence of invasive species through DNA analysis. The aim was to determine the spread and impact of these birds in natural habitats [Attribution: Civil Guard].
Approximately 90% of the samples tested positive for Japanese quail or their hybrids, according to research conducted from January 2019 to September 2021. About 560,000 birds were raised in the companies surveyed, with a stated objective of release into the wild for hunting purposes.
Domestic quail species (Coturnix coturnix) are valued for hunting, but Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) are marketed widely across the country by these firms. They can be up to ten times more productive and share similar morphology, yet they behave very differently in natural settings—tending to be heavier, less mobile, and thus easier targets in the field [Attribution: Civil Guard].
The main quail-producing companies reportedly maintained genuine research and development departments prioritizing crossbreeding to evade buyer detection. This practice may constitute consumer fraud, as buyers could be misled into thinking they are purchasing native quail when they are not.
Hunting and release activities raise concerns about the survival of some Japanese quail specimens released by manufacturers. If these birds adapt to the wild, they can alter ecosystems and genetic heritage, complicating efforts to restore native species populations.
Competition with common quail
Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) directly competes with the native common quail (Coturnix coturnix), a species indigenous to Spanish territory experiencing a marked decline, according to the Civil Guard. The introduction of non-native birds into the wild threatens genetic integrity and can overwhelm fragile ecosystems by displacing native species.
The ecological consequences include a reduced gene pool and heightened competition for food and shelter, which jeopardizes local biodiversity. The operation was coordinated by the State Prosecutor’s Office, the Chamber of Environment and Urbanization, and its case progressed to the Criminal Court of First Instance No. 1 in Lleida and No. 2 in Lleida.
Collaborators worked with the Lleida County Prosecutor’s Office and the National Veterinary Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to analyze genetic samples, while inspectors from the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, and the General Directorate of Biodiversity, provided expertise and support.
The operation aligns with the Spanish Plan of Action on Illegal Trafficking and International Poaching of Wild Species (TIFIES Plan) and the Nature’s Life Guards project, underscoring a national commitment to protecting native species and ecosystems from invasive introductions.