The company brought in to kill thousands of geese which officials say pose a hazard to aircraft around Schiphol airport have gassed almost 10,000 this year.

Arie den Hertog, of Duke Faunabeheer, said the total is twice as high as last year because the area has been expanded to a radius of 20 kilometres from the airport.

The birds can only be gassed during the moulting season, which takes place in June and July. During this period the birds lose their wing feathers and are unable to fly. They can then be rounded up into pens and gassed.

Most of the meat is supplied to butchers and food banks as well as zoos as food for predators. The feathers are also used for stuffing, newspaper Spits reported.

Bird protection groups say it would be more humane to grow different crops around the airport to discourage the birds from feeding there.

Earlier stories

Some 500,000 geese need to be culled

Schiphol goose cull ‘works’

Gassing of geese begins under heavy security

Supreme court blocks killing of protected geese

Flocks of geese threaten safety at Schiphol

Minister may back hunting geese for pleasure

Nature, farm and hunting groups agree goose cull plan