Ten endangered flamingos have been rescued in Tunisia after authorities intercepted smugglers attempting to traffic the birds out of the country.
The Tunisian Customs Authority reported that the flamingos were discovered on Sunday, packed into crates with their wings, legs, and torsos tightly bound. They were being transported in the back of a lorry with a Tunisian registration plate near the Algerian border.
Officials confirmed that the birds have been safely returned to their natural habitat as part of ongoing conservation efforts. However, it remains unclear what legal action will be taken against the smugglers.
Flamingos are protected under Tunisian law, making hunting or smuggling them illegal. Conservationists warn that, beyond trafficking, the species also faces threats from pollution and climate change, which are shrinking their wetland habitats.
The greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is classified as a threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), though recent data suggests a population increase, with at least half a million remaining in the wild.
Tunisia is a key stop along the migratory route of flamingos, with bird-watching hotspots including Djerba Island and Korba Lagoon.
