8 mlm birds poached each year

(ANSA) - Rome, May 21 - Up to 8 million birds die in Italy each year as a result of illegal trapping and poaching, Italian watchdog organisation LIPU said Thursday.
    These include endangered species such as the marbled duck and large birds of prey.
    In Italy the species most affected by poaching include the chaffinch with up to 3 million specimens killed, and the hawfinch with 1 million specimens killed.
    In response to the problem, LIPU called for "new laws introducing poaching as a new environmental crime like pollution and other serious damage to the environment".