Adam Hartman
3 April 2008
CATCHING birds in traps is illegal, an official in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism has confirmed.
A permit was needed before any birds could be trapped, and people noticing traps set for birds or animals should report them to the Ministry, the official said.
A set trap was enough evidence to prosecute the culprit on a charge of hunting protected animals, the official indicated.
This comes in the wake of a photo caption in Monday's edition of The Namibian, which showed a badly injured seagull that had to be put down after a homemade wire trap broke its beak.
A reader subsequently contacted the newspaper, reporting that several of these bird traps had been found on the roof of a well-known Swakopmund business.
The reader said he noticed a trapped pigeon on the roof while doing construction work there.
He alerted the manager of the establishment, and upon inspecting the roof, several more traps were found.
"We managed to save this pigeon, but at the same time we saw several of these traps set up on the roof," the source said, showing The Namibian one of the traps.
Although unproven, it was alleged that some workers had set the traps to catch birds for the pot, without the consent of their employer.
"This is not just cruel; it poaching as well," the reader alleged.
According to the Swakopmund Municipality, there are no municipal regulations against setting traps for birds.
A source at the municipality said some residents were desperate to get rid of pigeons nesting on their roofs, and might resort to traps.
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