EuroNatur

04/11/2026

📣 Young brown bear illegally killed in Prespa National Park

A young female brown bear, approximately two years old, was found shot dead in an important ecological corridor between Albania and Greece.

Brown bears are strictly protected under Greek, European and international legislation. Nevertheless, illegal killings continue to pose a serious threat to the species in parts of southeastern Europe.

Conservation organizations and public authorities have strongly condemned the incident and called for a thorough investigation.

© Callisto

More info: https://www.euronatur.org/en/what-we-do/news/young-brown-bear-illegally-killed-in-prespa-national-park

03/11/2026

Citizen science provides important data for the protection of the Aquatic Warbler and its endangered habitats along its European migration route 💡

With this year’s theme “Every bird counts – your observations matter”, draws attention to the central meaning of citizen science for the protection of migratory birds.

All over the world, lovers of nature provide invaluable data by reporting their observations on populations, migration routes and habitats of birds.

👉 This data forms an important foundation for effective measures in nature conservation.

Hardly any species demonstrates the significance of such observations as convincingly as the Aquatic Warbler 🪶

The rarest songbird of Europe is dependent on intact wetlands along its migratory route, but fewer and fewer of these still exist. This makes it particularly important to recognise breeding and resting grounds early on and employ protective measures purposefully.

You want to get involved and contribute to the protection of migratory birds?

➡ You can contribute by reporting your bird observations through citizen science platforms and apps.

➡ You can also get involved in citizen science projects in the field, where volunteers are regularly needed. Get in touch with a nature conservation organisation of your choice (including us!) – we’ll be happy to connect you with our partner organisations and suitable opportunities.

📷: Žymantas Morkvėnas, Justine Vansynghel

03/11/2026

🦆 ILLEGAL KILLING OF BIRDS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS [4/8]

💡 No bird protection legislation can make up for a lack of human and financial resources: without legal authorities to enforce the law, it is impossible to protect biodiversity effectively against IKB.

❓ In some areas, forest rangers do not have the appropriate equipment to protect wildlife. Others face pressure or threats. The lack of effective enforcement therefore facilitates the illegal killing of protected species.

📚 Several measures can be taken to strengthen law enforcement capacities:
✅ Targeted training for authorities in species identification, evidence collection and investigative techniques, including through the WildLIFE Crime Academy Conservation Foundation
✅ Deployment of specialised units and the increase in resources dedicated to them
✅ Strengthening of the status and protection of gamekeepers and forest rangers, who are on the front line in the fight against IKB

🤝 Giving the authorities responsible for biodiversity protection the means to act enables them to combat IKB and the destruction of ecosystems effectively.

👏 Since 2021, in Serbia, the establishment of a police unit specialised in environmental protection has helped to reduce IKB in the country!

🦆 Every Monday, as part of World Migratory Bird Day, Oiseaux de la Méditerranée - Mediterranean Waterbirds (MWN/ROEM), Tour du Valat, BirdLife International and EuroNatur are spreading awareness on one of the main threats facing birds: the Illegal Killing of Birds.

AEWA
Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands
Oiseaux de la Méditerranée - Mediterranean Waterbirds
AOS-Albanian Ornithological Society
جمعيّة أحبّاء الطّيور AAO/BirdLife en Tunisie
Convention on Migratory Species
OMÜ Ornitoloji Araştırma Merkezi - Ornithological Research Center
Македонско еколошко друштво
Društvo za zaštitu i proučavanje ptica Srbije
الجمعية الليبية للطيور Libyan Society for Birds
GREPOM/BirdLife Morocco

29/10/2026

The wild Komarnica river in Montenegro runs through one of Europe’s last untouched canyon ecosystems. Although protected under national law, it is still at risk.

Find out in the video what we’ve achieved so far and what we’re doing next to protect Komarnica 💧

The beautiful video footage you see in the background was captured by .you. The documentary
"Komarnica: The Wild That Remains" was produced by WildReach Productions



Crnogorsko Društvo Ekologa/Montenegrin Ecologists Society Spasimo Komarnicu / Save Komarnica Save the Blue Heart of Europe

27/10/2026

🦆 ILLEGAL KILLING OF BIRDS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS [3/8]

💡 Protecting migratory birds requires a clear, robust and enforceable legal framework. However, in many Mediterranean countries, the law does not allow for the effective protection of these species.

❓ If the legal framework fails to take into account the status of threatened species, the management of wildlife, the prosecution of offences, or if it conflicts with European Union law, then it is impossible to enforce the law, leaving the field open to poaching.

📚 What can be done?
✅ Reform the legal framework based on available scientific data
✅ Harmonise national legislation with European Union law
✅ Use up-to-date scientific data to set hunting quotas and appropriate opening/closing dates for hunting seasons
✅ Ban the hunting of protected species where this is not yet the case

🤝A robust and consistent legal framework is the first step in ensuring that the fight against IKB can be effectively implemented.

👏 Fortunately, laws are evolving: in 2023, North Macedonia adopted a law on nature conservation and a law on hunting. Although both pieces of legislation still need to be amended to bring them fully into line with European Union legislation, they represent an important step towards greater conservation regulation.

🦆 Every Monday, as part of World Migratory Bird Day, Oiseaux de la Méditerranée - Mediterranean Waterbirds (MWN/ROEM), Tour du Valat, BirdLife International and EuroNatur are spreading awareness on one of the main threats facing birds: the Illegal Killing of Birds.

AEWA
Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands
Oiseaux de la Méditerranée - Mediterranean Waterbirds
AOS-Albanian Ornithological Society
جمعيّة أحبّاء الطّيور AAO/BirdLife en Tunisie
Convention on Migratory Species
OMÜ Ornitoloji Araştırma Merkezi - Ornithological Research Center
Македонско еколошко друштво
Društvo za zaštitu i proučavanje ptica Srbije
الجمعية الليبية للطيور Libyan Society for Birds
GREPOM/BirdLife Morocco

23/10/2026

Last week, the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) / Komitee gegen den Vogelmord e.V. has been awarded the EuroNatur Award on Insel Mainau 🏆

The organisation was honoured for its decades-long and often dangerous campaign against illegal killing of birds along European migration routes.

🎬 Our video shows some highlights of the award ceremony and offers insights into CABS’ dedicated work to protect migratory birds and preserve Europe’s natural heritage.

Watch it now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k9rXNT46cMI

Once again, a heartfelt thank you to CABS, and congratulations to the entire team on this well-deserved recognition! 💚

The Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) has been awarded the Eu...

22/10/2026

Genetic sampling of the Dinaric-Pindos brown bear population is a central part of our LIFE DinPin Bear Project.

Do you want to know how and where this is taking place? Check out the info in this post! ⬇

21/10/2026

🎓 One cohort graduates, another journey begins!

Big congratulations to all the mentees and mentors who have just graduated from MENC Cohort 4! 🥳 It’s been wonderful to have you all on this journey and to see your connections, learning, and growth.

And now, we’re getting ready for the next chapter: MENC Cohort 5. Applications are closing soon and you have just 10 days left to apply! ⌛

Whether you’re looking to learn from someone with experience, share your knowledge, develop new skills, or connect with others working for nature, MENC is an opportunity to learn, grow, and make meaningful connections.

Here’s what participants from previous cohorts have to say:

💬 "It felt really nice to be surrounded by people from a similar field, yet still diverse in their experiences. Listening to their perspectives during our online meetings was very valuable. The whole programme felt easy and comfortable, almost like going to a cozy cafe for a cup of tea and chatting with friends. I feel like I am dealing with challenges with more capacity and resilience, which the mentoring process contributed to, together with some other personal practices I already had in place." – Nevena Petković

💬 "Learning to listen better was the biggest benefit that I found and I have taken it into my daily professional life too. I am surprised how easily it was to get to know someone virtually once the right foundations were established." – Philip Corrigan

💬 "Participating in the MENC programme has been one of the most valuable experiences of my professional life. It restored not only my confidence, but also a key competence that can easily be overlooked: the ability to remain open to guidance, reflection and growth. A particularly important part of this experience was being well matched with a mentor who genuinely listened, remained present and adapted flexibly to my evolving professional needs. Although clearly defined learning goals provide a useful starting point, I discovered that trust, attentiveness and flexibility can ultimately bring much more than initially anticipated. When the right people are brought together, mentorship can extend far beyond achieving predefined objectives: it can restore confidence, open new professional pathways and establish a relationship with lasting value." – Branislav Trudić

The next nine-month mentoring programme starts in January 2027. Apply by 31 October 2026 to join us as a or : https://www.euronatur.org/en/what-we-do/mentoring-programme 🔗