Plovdiv Court grants 3,000 euro bail to man accused of poisoning eight vultures

The Plovdiv District Court has released Lalyo Bichev on a 3,000 euro bail following allegations that he poisoned eight protected vultures in the Kalofere region of the Central Balkan Mountains. The incident, which occurred in August 2026, involved the use of strong poison placed in a cattle carcass, likely intended to target a predator such as a bear.

The deceased birds include four Black vultures, three White-headed vultures, and one Bearded vulture. Notably, the death of the Bearded vulture is significant as it was the first representative of its species released in Bulgaria in decades. One raven also died in the incident.

Prosecutors had requested pre-trial detention, citing a witness to the poisoning. However, the court determined that a monetary guarantee was a sufficient measure, noting that Bichev is a father of three, a firefighter, and has no prior criminal record. The charges under the Law on Biological Diversity carry a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and significant fines. The defense has indicated they will appeal the bail amount, describing it as unaffordable for the defendant's family.