Crackdown on Illegal Hunting and Wildlife Trafficking
In a bid to combat illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking, the terrestrial hunting brigade of the Ben Arous governorate, in coordination with the research brigade, intervened on Thursday evening in Boumhel to seize 15 wild partridges being held illegally in a private residence. The owner was preparing to sell them outside of the legal framework.
According to a statement published by the Regional Commissioner for Agricultural Development (CRDA) of Ben Arous, the birds were seized, confiscated, and placed in safety in coordination with the General Directorate of Forests. The authorities immediately launched legal proceedings against the offender, in accordance with the regulations in force regarding wildlife protection.
It is planned that the partridges will be released into their natural habitat, within the forests of the Ben Arous governorate, in order to preserve the ecological balance.
This operation comes just days before the official opening of the 2025-2026 hunting season, scheduled for October 5, 2025, in accordance with the ministerial decree published in the Official Journal on August 27 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Maritime Fishing.
The season will initially cover certain species of small game: wild hare, partridge, sedentary quail, wood pigeon, and houbara bustard (el kadra). It will also mark the beginning of big game hunting, including wild boar and African golden jackal.
The small game hunting season will end on December 7, 2025, while the big game hunting season will conclude on February 1, 2026. These deadlines are set to ensure the preservation of natural resources and the protection of biodiversity in the country's various forest regions.
