Rare birds, that had been smuggled from Ukraine to Hungary, were set free (PHOTOS)

More than 200 singing birds from Ukraine were treated and set free in Hortobágy in Hungary – the Mukachevo.net informed.

On December 16 at the checkpoint in the Hungarian Záhony, border police found and seized the birds being smuggled to Italy. At the checkpoint in Chop, Ukrainian customs officers did not notice the contraband.

The birds – bullfinchs, goldfinchs and waxwings – were in narrow boxes in the trunk of the car. As experts noted later, these winged animals probably had been kept there for several days without food and water. Some of them died during the journey…

Because of the risk of bird flu, none of the Hungarian zoos wanted to take the birds. So, volunteers decided to rescue them. Later, the birds were taken to the veterinary hospital in Hortobágy, where a temporary shelter and necessary treatment was arranged for them.