The bodies of over 11 thousand protected birds were found in a truck by customs officials at the Nagylak border crossing on Friday. The poached birds were identified at the scene by the head of the environmental protection area of the Kőrös-Maros National Park. Krisztián Bránya stated: the birds are from 22 different species and the total conservation value of the shipment exceeds 100 million Forints.

8300 Skylarks alone were found in the Romanian lorry with which the perpetrators were attempting to transport the birds to Italy via Hungary. According to experts, the shipment also included 2200 Red-throated Pipits, hundreds of White Wagtails and Calandra Larks, and many birds from several other species such as Fieldfares, European Goldfinches and Reed Buntings. The birds were most probably shot by Italian Hunters somewhere near Moldova.

The Romanian driver of the lorry was trying to pass through Hungary on his way to Italy. Customs officials became suspicious when they noticed that part of the lorry's cargo had been packaged differently, and began a thorough search, which resulted in them discovering the bodies of over 11 thousand birds in the refrigerated lorry, packed in boxes and plastic bags. This is one of the largest finds of this kind to have occurred at Nagylak. Criminal investigations have begun against the driver under nature conservation laws.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)