25m birds illegally killed in Mediterranean each year, says report

Conservationists call for action to end slaughter of birds after study uncovers epidemic of illegal shooting, trapping and gluing

About 25 million birds are being unlawfully shot, trapped and glued in a Mediterranean crime wave that is even affecting birds vulnerable to extinction, according to the first report of its kind.

Conflict-hit countries such as Syria and Libya fare particularly badly in the study by BirdLife International, with Egypt the worst offender, with 5.7m birds killed each year.