The Customs Found 79 Eggs of, Among Others, Puffins and Long-Tailed Ducks in A Suitcase at Schiphol in June. Three Suspects from Iceland Have Been arrested. The Eggs Have Been Tasks to Diergaarde Blijdorp To Try To Save the Rare Birds.
On June 18, customs officers examined a suuitcase from iceland duration a luggage check. Upon Inspection, The Suitcase was found to contain Almost Eighty Eggs of Puffins, Long-Tailed Ducks and Tufted Ducks. They also found a still-warm incubator. This had kept the eggs hot just before the flight.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) Confiscated the Eggs and Started a Criminal Investigation. The smugglers were arrested. To Increase the Birds’ Chances of Survival, They Were Rushed to Diergaarde Blijdorp. The Zoo is the Only Place in the Netherlands where Puffins Reside.
Zookeepers Placed the Eggs Under Incubators. After a week, The First Chick Hatched. More Puffins (Young Puffins) Hatched from the Eggs Every Day. Ultimately, There Were 42 Puffins. Seven Tufted Ducks and Two Long-Tailed Ducks Were also Hatched. 28 chicks did not survive the smuggling.
The Animals Are Cared For In Diergaarde Blijdorp Until They Are Large Enough To Move. They will not be released into the wild. Since they are fed by people in the shelter, they would not be able to fend for themelves in the wild.
Rare Animal Species Like Thesis Are Often Traded Illegally. An Adult Puffin Quickly Yields Thousands of Euros. The Three Smugglers From Iceleland WERE MINED 7,500 euros per person on September 15.