Killing spree: How Europe’s hunters poach endangered birds in Egypt (sneak peek)

There's a killing spree happening in the heart of Egypt—where Europe’s hunters exploit poor law enforcement to slaughter endangered animals.

For 15 months, The New Arab investigated how Maltese hunters are escaping EU restrictions to poach in Egypt, targeting animals such as the Egyptian vulture, the osprey, and the lanner falcon - all of which are classified as endangered. Also hunted: the northern lapwing and the European turtle dove, both vulnerable in the EU.

In 2024, in a shocking move, Egypt’s environment ministry expanded tourist hunting zones to new areas—including New Valley and Sohag. The EU has invested €36,451,669 million since 1996 to protect Egyptian vultures, ospreys, lanner falcons, and turtle doves, among others.

But while European taxpayers pay to protect them in Europe, European hunters pay to kill them in Egypt. Who gets to win the battle between tradition and conservation? We reveal all in our upcoming investigation, which will be published next week.