The Ministry of Local Development and Environment has stepped up field campaigns to protect wildlife and crack down on violations involving the possession or trade of wild birds.
A major campaign targeting several cafes along Alexandria’s Corniche resulted in the seizure of a flamingo found at one of the establishments and the launch of legal procedures against those responsible.
The campaign followed a report received by the Nature Conservation Sector of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) that a cafe along Alexandria’s Corniche was keeping a flamingo.
Minister of Local Development and Environment, Manal Awad, ordered immediate action to verify the report. A joint field team from El Omayed Reserve and the EEAA’s Alexandria regional branch inspected the site and found the bird being held inside the cafe.
The flamingo was officially seized by the reserve’s specialists in coordination with the relevant authorities.
Awad said the ministry would continue efforts to protect wildlife and biodiversity and crack down on practices that threaten wild animals.
She stressed the need to comply with wildlife protection laws and respond promptly to reported violations.
A formal report was filed and the case will be referred to the Public Prosecution for appropriate legal action.
The flamingo was later transferred to Ashtoum El Gamil Nature Reserve in Port Said to help restore its ability to survive in its natural habitat, pending its release in accordance with the decision of the competent authorities and the Public Prosecution.
