A routine check on the Rosario-Santa Fe highway allowed the seizure of more than 500 wild birds illegally transported in a Scania truck with a trailer.
The procedure was carried out around 9:30 PM at the Timbúes toll, where officers from the Provincial Guard, the General Directorate of Rural Security “Los Pumas,” and the National Gendarmerie detected 20 cardboard boxes with holes containing the animals in overcrowded conditions.
The driver, a 60-year-old man from Avellaneda, claimed to be transporting plastic pipes but could not justify the possession of the birds. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office ordered the immediate seizure of the cargo under the Law 22.421 on Wildlife Conservation.
The discovery
- Total birds: 513 specimens.
- Alive: 430.
- Dead: 83, due to poor transport conditions.
- Identified species: cardinals, crestless cardinals, parrots, and mixed birds.
The birds were taken to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in Rosario, where they received veterinary assistance and their health status was assessed to determine their final destination.
Recent background
This seizure adds to other operations against illegal wildlife trafficking. In February, in Malagueño (Córdoba), 41 animals —mostly native birds— were recovered during raids on private homes. Among the rescued species were black-headed grosbeaks, goldfinches, collared finches, blue-black grassquits, and land turtles.
Some neighbors voluntarily handed over specimens, including invasive species like European starlings and endangered birds like the king of the forest. All were transferred to the Tatú Carreta reserve, where they remain under quarantine and observation.
Importance of highway checks
Highway operations are essential to combat illegal wildlife trafficking:
- Deterrent action: the presence of checks discourages offenders.
- Interception and rescue: allows stopping vehicles and freeing animals.
- Biodiversity protection: prevents the extraction of native species, many endangered.
- Public health: prevents zoonosis risks due to handling without sanitary controls.
- Legal compliance: ensures the application of environmental regulations.
- Road safety: reduces wildlife roadkill in critical areas.
Actions during operations
- Verification of wildlife transport documents.
- Inspection of suspicious cargo.
- Awareness campaigns for drivers.
- Collaboration with specialized environmental brigades.
The seizure in Santa Fe constitutes one of the largest rescues in the region and highlights the magnitude of illegal wild bird trafficking in Argentina.
Coordination between security forces and environmental agencies is key to protecting biodiversity and ensuring that rescued birds can be rehabilitated and, if possible, reintroduced into their natural habitat.
