A shocking new study has revealed the staggering scale of illegal bird poaching in Lebanon, where social media has become a disturbing trophy wall for wildlife crime.
Published in Oryx and reported by Mongabay’s Spoorthy Raman, the study analyzed over 1,800 images posted on Instagram and Facebook between 2011 and 2023, showing nearly 30,000 dead birds across 212 species—most of them protected by law.
Lebanon lies on the African-Eurasian flyway, one of the world’s busiest bird migration routes. Every year, millions of birds—including endangered species like the Egyptian vulture and steppe eagle—pass through the region.
But many don’t make it. An estimated 2.6 million birds are shot annually in Lebanon alone, with large flocks sometimes wiped out entirely.
The study found that 94% of birds pictured were illegally hunted, yet poachers often posed proudly in their photos, unafraid of consequences.
“It’s a macho thing,” said seabird biologist Andre Raine, one of the study’s authors, describing how hunters drape dead birds across vehicles for photoshoots.
In many cases, the posts also showed illegal hunting practices, including minors with firearms, endangered mammals and reptiles killed, and birds sold or kept to live as trophies.
Ornithologist Michel Sawan, who patrols Lebanon’s forests daily to rescue injured birds, blames the carnage on weak enforcement.
With fines as low as $5 and no dedicated environmental police, the risk of punishment is minimal.
Meanwhile, social media companies have largely ignored requests to remove the content, fueling further violations.
Migratory birds already face enormous threats from habitat loss and climate change. Adding senseless slaughter for social media likes only worsens their chances.
If we want to protect birdlife, we can’t just look away. Speak up. Share this story. Choose compassion over cruelty. And always Support organizations fighting for wildlife—because silence is part of the problem.
This article by Nicholas Vincent was first published by One Green Planet on 23 April 2025. Lead Image: Image Credit :GGRIGOROV/Shutterstock.
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