In May last year, the operator of a gravel factory used heavy equipment and destroyed the breeding grounds of rare sand martins. He now stood before the criminal court together with an employee.
The “Krone” exposed this scandal in the summer of the previous year: in Styria, a rare colony of sand martins – they are on the red list in Central Europe – was simply scooped out with an excavator. This happened in the vicinity of a gravel factory where the animals nested to reproduce. The suspicion: The gravel should have made way for a campsite, but the animals were in the way.
“Knew the animals existed”
The factory director and his excavator driver had to appear in court for the crime on Wednesday. The two do not deny this: “Yes, we knew the animals existed. I saw them on May 24, but on the 25th they were gone, the poles slipped down due to the heavy rain,” said the director. He ordered his excavator operator to remove it. He also says he saw neither birds nor nesting sites.
The ornithologist who filed the complaint cannot imagine this: “On May 22, the colony was still intact and the animals could not be overlooked or ignored. That was a serious intervention!”
For judge Florian Farmer it is clear: “The case stinks to high heaven. There is a motive, but not enough evidence. If there is any doubt, you will therefore be acquitted.” The judgment is not legally binding.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
