Piombino: Two men caught poaching protected goldfinches

Carabinieri Forestali officers have intercepted an illegal wildlife poaching operation in the Campo all’Olmo area of Piombino, Italy. Two men, aged 38 and 45, were caught attempting to capture protected goldfinches (Carduelis).

Investigators seized equipment used in the operation, including a six-meter by two-meter net, three acoustic devices used as bird calls, and two knives with 22-centimeter blades. The two suspects, residents of southern Italy with prior records, have been reported to the Prosecutor's Office in Livorno for multiple offenses.

During the intervention, five live goldfinches were recovered. The birds were found to be uninjured and were released back into their natural habitat by order of the judicial authorities.