The Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team (WRRT) received a phone call on the Wildlife Crime Hotline from some concerned locals about wild birds being kept in the sun, in front of a coffee shop in Phnom Penh (Coffee Time). The team raided Coffee Time shop, found and confiscated 5 birds kept illegally by the owner.

The WRRT’s investigation lead to the filling of a non-re-offense contract and the confiscation of 5 wild birds being kept by the coffee shop owner illegally.

1 shikra (Accipiter badius), 2 eastern marsh harrier (Circus spilonotus) and 2 Asian barred owl (Glaucidium cuculoides) were brought to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center for examination. The veterinary team was concerned by the fact that the birds were chained under the sun for a long period of time.

In the same raid, in front of the coffee shop (Coffee Time) the WRRT found a chained imperial eagle but the owner presented legal documentation for possession.

WRRT in action VIDEO

All birds will be released back into the wild soon as their health improves.