National Customs Agency

Customs inspectors from the "Air Control" sector at Sofia Customs rescued 6 pheasants from three protected species. The birds were destined for export to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
On 15. 09. 2022 customs officers at the Sofia Airport Cargo inspected a consignment of live pheasants from Bulgaria to the UAE, sent by a Bulgarian citizen. The birds are two of each of protected species Syrmaticus ellioti, Lophura swinhoii and Tragopan satyra and are listed in Annex A and Annex C of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein.
Customs inspectors found that the pheasants were regularly declared as cargo, but an inspection with officials of the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water - Sofia and "Border Control" at the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency confirmed that for the first two pheasant species no CITES export permits had been issued, and for the third species no CITES export permit or other certificate had been issued, indicating the origin.
Such an infringement is punishable by a fine of 100 to 200% of the customs value of the goods.
The pheasants are housed in the Sofia Zoo.