Nine Syrians detained for illegally hunting for falcons in Russia's republic of Khakasia
ABAKAN. Aug 9 (Interfax) - Nine citizens of Syria have been detained in the Shira district of the Russian internal republic of Khahasia with devices for hunting for saker falcons, the Interior Ministry department for Khakasia said.
"During the search of the detainees, 67 pigeons serving as lure for falcons, 114 snares, and 5 caps were seized from them," it said.
Eight administrative violation reports have been drawn up, and the Syrians will have to pay fines of up to 2,000 rubles each, it said.
Facts of illegal hunting for saker falcons in Khakasia have been recorded since 2006. This bird is on the Russian national list of endangered species and on the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) list.
Specialists from the All-Russian Nature Protection Research Institute interviewed by Interfax said one saker falcon could cost from $3,000 to $30,000 in Arab countries.