Macabre view, disappearing recordings and PiS treasurer. The case is outraged by animal defenders
At night, someone dropped almost 20 nests with chicks from the windows. In the morning – a macabre view, and a few weeks later – four detainees, including an influential official associated with PiS. Why did the recordings of key hours disappear from monitoring? The case is outraged by the local community and animal defenders.
Policemen from the Provincial Headquarters in Kielce detained four men aged 30 to 57 in connection with the destruction of swallow nests at the Nature Education Center in Umianowice. However, they did not reveal the details of these actions due to the good of the proceedings. Young asp. Paula Kępińska from the Poviat Police Headquarters in Pińczów emphasized that no one was charged yet.
Umianowice. Damaged swallow nests
Local media unofficially learned that among the detainees are Kamil K., who is the deputy director of the Świętokrzyskie team and the Nadnidziński Landscape Parks (ZŚinpk), and at the same time is the treasurer of the Świętokrzyskie structures of Law and Justice. The head of the center in Umianowice and two other employees of the facility were also detained.
A spokesman for the Świętokrzyskie Marshal’s Office Przemysław Chruściel confirmed that the police had detained four people, including the head of the facility. – We have no information on the nature or purpose of the activities carried out. The unit continues to work in an undisturbed mode – he emphasized.
The destroyed nests were found on July 3 in the morning. The employees of the center later said that someone dropped almost 20 sockets with chicks from the windows of the building at night. Ultimately, only a few birds were saved.
What threatens to destroy the bird’s nest?
Activists defending animal rights did not hide their indignation. The police were notified, but investigators could not use the help of monitoring. What is even more appalling in this matter, recordings from specific hours have disappeared or have not been saved.
In Poland, the liquidation of the swallow’s nest during the breeding season is an offense and can be fined. In special cases, even imprisonment may be a punishment, because swallows are under protection.
For one swallow’s nest, a fine can reach up to 5,000. PLN. The destruction of a larger protected species, especially in the breeding season, can meet the conditions for animal abuse and threaten with deprivation of freedom up to 3 years.
Bird nests can only be removed outside the breeding season from October 16 to the end of February. Even then, however, it should be remembered that they must pose a threat to safety or health, and at the same time you need appropriate permits and action within a specified period. Such consent may be granted, for example, by the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection.
