Sharjah24: As part of its continuous efforts to maintain the safety of the Sharjah's residents and enhance security among them, and to protect endangered animals, the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah (EPAA) announced the success of the external inspection department teams in seizing 2,409 devices for migratory bird sounds and 195 various animals and birds during the year 2023.

Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah, said: The External Inspection Department's team at the EPAA plays an active role in executing round-the-clock inspection campaigns, with the aim of monitoring and prohibiting the circulation of migratory bird sound devices and their accessories, as well as preventing their sale, possession, use, and importation. Additionally, they monitor the prevention of the hunting, sale, and possession of rare, endangered, and predatory animals, as well as raptors and wild and marine migratory birds, and they carry out the confiscation of these from violators and take necessary actions against them.

Al Suwaidi revealed that the operations to seize migratory bird sound devices and their attachments resulted in the confiscation of 2,409 devices, and recorded 9 violations for possessing devices and migratory birds. The bird confiscation process included the capture and confiscation of 5 Stone Curlew birds among the category of migratory birds, 43 falcons among the category of raptors, and concerning marine birds, 108 seagulls and 30 marine ducks were seized, as well as one Houbara bustard among the category of terrestrial birds.

She pointed out that the EPAA pays great attention to protecting endangered animals listed in the international trade law (CITES), where its efforts in this regard have resulted in the confiscation of a group of birds and animals listed in this list, including 5 Egyptian Goose, 2 baboons, in addition to a pit bull, coordination was made regarding them with the concerned authorities to take the necessary procedures and measures against their owners, and then hand over the confiscated animals to the authority.

The Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah urged the public, especially animal and bird breeders, to the importance of complying with these laws and regulations that aim to protect the security and safety of society and not harm its members, in order to avoid falling under legal accountability and recording violations and fines against them, which reach up to 100,000 dirhams in some cases. She emphasized the necessity of urgently reporting violators who breed rare and predatory animals on farms, and houses, as well as those who trade them without permission, and those who possess migratory bird sound devices. She expressed gratitude for the efforts of the working teams and elements concerned in the related government bodies.

The seizure and raid operations included a group of houses, farms, estates, and veterinary clinics in various areas of the emirate, including Khudairah, Zubeida, and Mahdhab in the central region, as well as Al Jubail, Al Heera, and Al Khazamiya in Sharjah city. Some of them were executed directly within the inspection campaigns by the External Inspection Division, while others were executed in coordination and cooperation between the EPAA, the General Command of Sharjah Police, the Coast Guard Group, and the municipalities of the emirate of Sharjah, after verifying the accuracy of the reports and complaints received by the authority, carrying out all the investigative and search procedures and follow-up, and not proceeding with the seizure of animals from houses except after obtaining an official permission from the public prosecution, in coordination with Sharjah Police and its concerned teams.

These operations were carried out in accordance with established legal, professional, operational, and procedural foundations, and in execution of the laws and legislations regulating the possession of animals in all their forms. This includes Administrative Decision No. (15) for the year 2014, issued by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and ruler of Sharjah, regarding the prohibition of possession of dangerous and predatory animals in the Emirate, as well as the decision of the Sharjah Executive Council No. (30) for the year 2014 concerning the controls on the possession of dangerous and predatory animals in the Emirate, and also the provisions of the Federal Law No. (22) for the year 2016 issued by His Highness the President of the State concerning the regulation of possession of dangerous animals.