Perpetrator identified: Man arrested for mass poisoning of vultures near Botev Peak

Arrest following the environmental crime in the Balkan Mountains

Police in Karlovo have detained a 36-year-old man responsible for poisoning eight vultures at the foot of Botev Peak, announced the Plovdiv Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior. Personnel from the General Directorate "National Police" also participated in the large-scale operation.

The detained individual has made a full confession, and irrefutable evidence of the crime was discovered at the scene.

The scale of the tragedy for nature

On August 19, the "Green Balkans" Rescue Center clarified that the number of dead birds found is actually nine. The victims of the poison include:

• A pair of black vultures from the Kotel Balkan;
• A pair of black vultures from the Vrachanski Balkan;
• One black vulture from the Eastern Rhodopes;
• Boev – the first bearded vulture released in Bulgaria in decades;
• Two griffon vultures and one raven.

The investigation into the case continues under the supervision of the Plovdiv District Prosecutor's Office, and all collected materials have already been handed over to the prosecution.