Restaurants in different areas of Albania, as part of their menu, beyond the usual dishes, serve the meat of wild animals and birds. This phenomenon occurs on a daily basis, even by proudly advertising it on online social media. All you need is an online check-up and such practices are easy to come by, even for immediate reservation.
Such restaurants are located in all regions of Albania, offering tempting dishes to customers that are unaware on the threatening status of the species being served. In addition, consuming this type of unfamiliar, uncertified food in such places can be a source of disease and parasites. Among these restaurants, you can easily find dishes with roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), wild rabbit (Lepus europaeus), reptiles (turtle), as well as various species of wild birds, and in some cases, even the brown bear (Ursus arctos), despite the fact that it is categorically prohibited by law. These species are protected by international laws and conventions, ratified by the Albanian government, but unfortunately, the latter’s interest in wildlife remains at formal levels.
Albania is under the effect of the hunting ban law until March 2021. Many of the species advertised on the menu are prohibited from speaking and trading, both before and after the hunting ban ends. Although the country has been closed in recent months due to the CoVID-19 pandemic, nature lovers and our site report that many restaurants have re-started offering wild meat after easing the business opening measures. The origin of this wild meat has nothing to do with it, other than poaching in the forests, wetlands, and other natural habitats of our country.
This is an extremely negative phenomenon that is turning into a serious threat to the populations of many species of wild fauna, as well as it is a flagrant violation and in the middle of the day of local legislation. PPNEA calls on the wide public to reject the consumption of wild meat of unverified origin in various restaurants as well as to report it to the law enforcement agencies if they find cases of trafficking in wild species for consumption. At the same time, we call on the law enforcement, local and central authorities to intervene to punish the offenders according to the legislation in force.
