The Rotterdam Zoo, Diergaarde Blijdorp, successfully rescued 42 chicks from smuggled puffin eggs discovered at Schiphol Airport. This event, reported on September 22, 2025, highlights the ongoing battle against wildlife smuggling.
- Rotterdam zoo saves parakeet puffin eggs
- 42 out of 51 eggs hatched successfully
- Smugglers caught with eggs at Schiphol
- Puffins face threats from climate change
- Illegal trade poses biodiversity risks
- Smugglers fined 7,500 euros each
In June, customs officials found 51 puffin eggs in the luggage of three German smugglers returning from Iceland. The eggs were kept warm in an incubator before their discovery. Zoo spokesperson Erwin de Zwart noted the labor-intensive process of hatching, with the first chick emerging just four days after the eggs arrived.
- 42 out of 51 eggs successfully hatched.
- The chicks will remain at Blijdorp until strong enough for relocation to other zoos.
- The smugglers received fines of €7,500 each for their actions.
- Puffins are internationally protected, and their smuggling poses risks to biodiversity.
While the puffin chicks thrive, their release into the wild is not possible due to human intervention. The ongoing issue of wildlife smuggling remains a critical concern for conservationists.
As the situation develops, the zoo plans to integrate these chicks into breeding programs to support puffin populations.
