Thousands of endangered bird eggs worth $500,000 seized in Australia

A haul of 3,404 eggs has been seized in Australia following a European operation against the illegal bird trade.

Investigators discovered the haul – believed to be worth between A$400,000 and A$500,000 (£207,000 to £259,000) – at a property in Granton, Tasmania, on July 9.

The eggs were inflated – or hollowed out – which meant they had only decorative value.

Officials said a 62-year-old man is being investigated, but no arrests have been made.

Environmental and wildlife crimes Human trafficking has become one of the largest and most profitable crime sectors in the world and continues to grow, pushing many species to the brink of extinction.

The Australian suspect is expected to appear in court later on charges of offences under the Environment and Biodiversity Protection Act 1999.

“[The man] “The accused is involved in the collection and harvesting of bird eggs from the wild and the trafficking of eggs of native and CITES-listed Australian birds to persons overseas,” a spokesperson for the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) said.

CITES listed means that the species is included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement between governments that aims to protect endangered plants and animals from international trade.

The eggs are currently being analyzed to confirm which species they belong to, but they are believed to contain rare and endangered species that are at high risk of extinction.

Investigators believe these eggs include those of the forty-spotted parrot, which is found only on Bruny Island in Tasmania, the swift parrot and the shy albatross.

All of the eggs in this batch were blown or hollowed out, meaning both the white and yolk had been removed.

In 2023, European authorities launched an investigation into the illegal harvesting, collection, trade, purchase and sale of bird eggs within Europe and internationally.

A number of search warrants were executed, resulting in the seizure of over 56,000 eggs.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species estimates that the international wildlife trade is worth billions of dollars – from live animals to products derived from them.

The agreement covers more than 40,000 species and has been agreed to by more than 180 countries, including Australia.

Tasmanian ecologist Dr Sally Bryant told ABC News that egg collection “probably happened more than any of us realised”.

“We are very aware of this type of activity, but it has become very old, and it is morally, ethically and legally corrupt,” she said.

She added that groups of this size were assembled by “skilled operators” over “many years”.

Interfering with endangered or migratory birds can be punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to A$138,600, or both.

The maximum penalty for the export of native Australian specimens, including eggs, and the export or import of specimens, including eggs, listed on the CITES list is 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of A$330,000, or both.

Possession of CITES-listed specimens, including eggs, can be punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to A$330,000, or both.

“Illegal wildlife trafficking and crime are rapidly threatening many of our species that are already at risk of extinction,” said Tanja Plibersek, Minister for Environment and Water.

“We must stamp out this horrific trade that leads to our native animals being captured in the Australian bush and sent overseas to be sold.”