In Dagestan, local residents kept five animals listed in the Red Book and used them for commercial purposes. The information came from the regional press service of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The discovery highlights how vulnerable wildlife can be when profit drives activity at tourist hotspots and how authorities respond to such practices.
During routine inspections at popular tourist sites, investigators encountered several entrepreneurs who carried live birds through areas busy with visitors. They invited travelers to pose for photographs, monetizing the encounters and creating a distorted impression of wildlife being part of everyday entertainment. This approach not only exploited the animals but also misled tourists who might assume the birds were part of a sanctioned program rather than a traded commodity.
Ultimately, three eagles, one black kite, and a vulture were confiscated from their owners. After their seizure, the Red Book birds were transported to the Dagestan reserve to receive preventive care and to ensure their welfare while authorities determine the next steps. The move underscored the commitment of regional authorities to protect rare species and to place the animals in a safer setting where they can be monitored by wildlife professionals.
Administrative protocols were drafted against the owners as part of the enforcement process. The cases were handed over to the Makhachkala Interregional Environmental Prosecutor’s Office, where prosecutors will assess the evidence and decide on appropriate measures in line with environmental laws and regulations. The goal is to deter similar activity in the future and to reinforce that exploiting endangered animals for profit has serious legal consequences.
The ministry stressed that such raids are routinely conducted at tourist locations to identify illegal activity and safeguard wildlife. These operations serve as a warning to those who might consider trafficking or displaying protected species for quick gains, reminding communities that the protection of biodiversity is a shared responsibility.
In a related note, the Tyumen region recently reported a separate wildlife recovery effort in which three orphaned bear cubs, after rehabilitation in the forest, were released back into their natural habitat. This example illustrates ongoing regional commitments to animal welfare—from rescue and rehabilitation to legal enforcement and ecological conservation—even as authorities respond to unlawful practices in other areas.