A directive from the European Union has established that Spain must implement measures to protect species living in the wild. As a result, the autonomous communities of the country have had to prohibit the hunting and capture of songbirds in their territories. In Andalusia, for example, the capture of finches has been prohibited since 2018.
Recently, the National Police Unit assigned to the Junta de Andalucía in Cádiz carried out an operation in Chiclana de la Frontera, where they dismantled a large-scale poaching network of wild birds. During the intervention, the officers rescued a dozen goldfinches that were caged and released them.
According to the police, these goldfinches are finch birds and enjoy legal protection. The illegal hunting of these species is prohibited, and efforts are being made to combat these practices that endanger wildlife.