# Illegal wildlife seizures in Italy

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/illegal-wildlife-seizures-in-italy
> Updated: 2026-09-22T11:40:28.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

Italian authorities have conducted several operations to seize protected wildlife being held without proper documentation or licenses.

In Bono, Sardinia, Carabinieri and CITES units seized eight marginated tortoises from a private residence. The owner was reported for possessing animals in conditions “incompatible with their nature,” and the tortoises were transferred to a wildlife recovery center.

Subsequent operations in other regions targeted different species. In Afragola, near Naples, police seized 11 goldfinches and two Hermann's tortoises from an apartment where birds were found lacking identification rings. In Trecastagni, authorities discovered 102 Hermann's tortoises in a private garden. Investigators suspect adult specimens were taken from the wild for captive breeding. The homeowner in Trecastagni faces charges including receiving stolen goods and aggravated theft of electricity.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-22: Authorities in Italy seize protected wildlife in separate operations

Italian authorities seized numerous protected animals in separate operations, including 102 Hermann's tortoises in Trecastagni and several goldfinches in Afragola, due to illegal detention and lack of permits.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/authorities-in-italy-seize-protected-wildlife-in-separate-operations

### 2026-09-09: Authorities seize eight tortoises in Bono, Italy

Authorities in Bono, Italy, seized eight marginated tortoises kept without proper licenses. The animals were found in good condition and are being moved to a wildlife recovery center.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/authorities-seize-eight-tortoises-in-bono-italy

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Cite as: Illegal wildlife seizures in Italy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/illegal-wildlife-seizures-in-italy