"Can you hear them?" Predrag Bajović, stand-up comedian, asked the journalist. Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG) in February 2024, while they were riding a bus on the Podgorica - Tirana route. In the bus, full of young tourists, the sound of the engine was accompanied by the strange "singing" of unknown birds. The sound was coming from - the toilet.
Pedja tried unsuccessfully to open the door. It had been locked the entire journey. At the border crossings, no one checked the contents of the toilet, nor paid attention to the sounds coming from it. Upon arrival in Tirana, the birds were still locked inside, sending the passengers off with their chirping.
The Customs Administration (UC) told CIN-CG that on May 1 last year, at the Božaj border crossing, while inspecting a bus with Montenegrin license plates, they prevented an attempt to smuggle 85 animals - 78 birds of various species and eight rabbits. The bus was traveling between Kotor and Durres.
A record fine of 5.000 euros was imposed on the company that owned the bus and 500 euros on the person responsible. According to the UC, the animals were not specially protected or wild species, and according to the current legislation of Montenegro, no criminal prosecution is being undertaken.
"Upon discovering the customs violation, the veterinary inspection was notified, which went to the scene. After carrying out the prescribed actions by authorized customs officers, the seized goods were handed over. The birds and rabbits were, in accordance with the law, handed over to the veterinary inspection for safekeeping and are currently in quarantine until the procedure is completed," the Customs Office told CIN-CG.
However, given that Montenegro has not yet established a state animal shelter, it remains unclear where exactly these animals are currently located.
The Veterinary Inspection did not respond to CIN-CG's questions by the time this article was published, nor did they respond to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"On May 5, the agency was informed that a certain number of birds and rabbits were seized at the Božaj border crossing on May 1. We do not know what species they are, from whom they were taken, and where they are kept. Two days ago, we officially urged the competent authorities to inform us about the procedure carried out and the actions taken, however, we have not yet received a response," the agency told CIN-CG.
According to CIN-CG, there are at least four locations in Montenegro that were subject to environmental inspection from 2020 to the end of 2023, where several unreported animal species were found.
The Center for the Protection and Study of Birds of Montenegro (CZIP), as well as the EPA, point out that the lack of a state shelter is a key obstacle in the fight against illegal keeping and transportation of animals.
In addition, CZIP states that poor legal solutions, low levels of detection, and lenient penal policies indicate that the state, despite its environmental commitment, is not dealing with this type of crime seriously.
Smugglers are increasingly smuggling pets
The Police Directorate (PD) told CIN-CG that on January 25, 2024, at the Dobrakovo border crossing, 150 parrots and 50 hamsters were found in a bus. The animals were then confiscated, but without specifying the location where they were kept.
Although Montenegro does not recognize the smuggling of pets, or domestic animals, as a criminal offense, the latest EUROPOL report on organized crime in the European Union, published in March 2025, highlights that this type of smuggling is increasing significantly.
“Smuggling of wildlife remains a problem due to the constant demand in the European Union and worldwide. However, smugglers are increasingly trading species that are not on the list of protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES list), in order to avoid the attention of the authorities,” the EUROPOL report states.
The CITES Convention is an international agreement that protects certain species from illegal trade, which Montenegro signed in 2006, with the aim of preserving biodiversity on the planet.
Illegal wildlife trafficking is today one of the most profitable forms of organized crime, and its global value is estimated at $23 billion annually.
African tortoises worth 120.000 euros, suspended sentence
Border Police Sector officers registered two cases of animal smuggling from the beginning of 2022 to the end of 2023, both near the border between Montenegro and Serbia.
The first case was recorded in January 2022, in the town of Konatari near Bijelo Polje, when the police caught a Montenegrin citizen who, avoiding customs supervision, tried to smuggle wild animals from Serbia to Montenegro through local routes, with the intention of handing them over to foreign citizens. The objects of the smuggling were two African spurred tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata) and a red-throated barbet (Psilopogon mystacophanos). The tortoises, which are on the CITES list of protected species, are estimated at around 120.000 euros on the black market, while the colorfully feathered bird, originally from Asia, is classified as a near-threatened species.
The turtles were temporarily placed in the Natural History Museum in Podgorica, while the barbet bird, unfortunately, did not survive.
"A criminal complaint has been filed against one person for taking out and bringing in protected natural assets, especially protected animals, as well as for trafficking in them," the Police Directorate told CIN-CG.
The suspected Montenegrin citizen was the only one prosecuted, and the Basic Court in Bijelo Polje sentenced him to a suspended sentence.
The second case of smuggling occurred in 2023, on an international train leaving Montenegro, when police officers found six plastic canisters hidden in the factory cavity of the carriage. They contained dark brown shells of a protected species - finger clams (Lithophaga lithophaga). Due to the increasing commercial demand in culinary art, this species is subject to overfishing. Legal protection is considered a key measure to prevent its disappearance from the seabed of Montenegro. Extracting finger clams also destroys the sea rocks where they live, which further threatens the entire marine ecosystem.
However, since the owner of the shells found in that case was not identified, no one was held accountable.
Wild animals under attack from smugglers
From the beginning of November 2022 to the end of November 2023, the Customs Administration recorded two cases of animal smuggling.
The first case was registered at the Customs Office in Bar, when the illegal transport of three wild boars (Sus scrofa) was prevented. Wild boars can be hunted during the hunting season, but so-called “trophies” cannot be transported to other countries without a special permit. In this case, a fine of 200 euros was imposed, of which 134 euros were paid.
The second case was recorded at the Debeli Brijeg border crossing, where customs officers found five peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) in the trunk of a car. This is a protected bird species in Montenegro, known as the fastest animal in the world, as it can reach speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour when falling. Unfortunately, one falcon did not survive the transport. A fine of 500 euros was imposed, of which 334 euros were paid.
15 reports of illegal animal keeping in the last four years
The environmental inspection report, which CIN-CG had access to, shows that numerous irregularities were recorded regarding the keeping of animals in Montenegro between the beginning of 2020 and the end of 2023. Among them are exotic and protected species that were found in various locations in the country, without a certificate of origin.
During the summer months, especially on the coast, there have been cases where individuals have used animals for commercial photography, without the necessary permits for their keeping or trade. In one such case, during a control in July 2023, inspectors found a person using an owl's cocoon on the promenade in Budva to make money.
The person stated: ""I don't use birds for commercial purposes, I use them to spread emotion."
This boundary between emotion and profit forms the basis on which the practice of this type of animal exploitation is based. However, in such cases, according to the inspectorate, the animals' wings are often broken to prevent them from escaping. The environmental inspectorate imposed a misdemeanor fine of 165 euros.
In four inspections conducted by the environmental inspection from 2020 to the end of 2023, the presence of a large number of undeclared animals was confirmed. In two cases, the inspections concerned private individuals who keep animals for their own needs, while in the other two, the inspections were aimed at companies that manage zoos.
Bird lover from Budva
One of the cases received by the environmental inspection concerns a resident of Budva. During an inspection conducted in 2021, at the initiative of the Police Directorate, it was found that 44 goats, three dogs and 688 birds of various species were living on his property. Most of the birds were classified as domestic species (ducks, geese, turkeys, etc.), which do not require a special permit for keeping and breeding. However, among them were also species that are not indigenous and are of special value.
After the environmental inspection determined that the birds were housed in adequate conditions - in accordance with the Regulation on the conditions for keeping and breeding wild animal species and the Nature Protection Act - which was also confirmed by a veterinary clinic, the owner submitted an official request to the Environmental Protection Agency for a permit to keep the following species: African royal starling (Lamprotornis), macaw (Ara ararauna), roseate cockatoo (Eolophus roseicapilla), jacob's parrot (Psittacus erithacus), Amazon parrot (Amazona auropalliata), mountain myna (Gracula religiosa), scarlet toucanet (Aulacorhynchus), pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), ostrich (Struthio camelus), anteater chat (Myrmecocichia), Asian bluebird (Irena puella).
In order to issue a permit for keeping these birds, the Agency required the submission of accurate proof of their origin. However, this was not possible for all of the listed species.
"I acquired the birds by buying them here, and most of them from abroad," said the owner.
Due to the lack of documentation, misdemeanor proceedings were initiated in accordance with the Law on Nature Protection, and in the following period, the Misdemeanor Court in Budva imposed a fine of 250 euros.
Bear in a cage
The second subject of the environmental inspection in February 2022 concerned a private animal keeper from Berane. At that time, the inspection recorded the presence of 287 animals, from a total of 41 different species.
On the property, inspectors found, among others, a bear (Ursus arctos Linnaeus), a wolf (Canis lupus), a great horned owl (Bubo bubo), a whooping crane (Grus grus), a fallow deer (Dama dama), a llama, a Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) and other species.
"On the day of the inspection, the subject of supervision stated that he did not have a permit from the Agency, but that he had submitted a request for legalization of keeping wild and protected species of animals back in 2019," the environmental inspection report states.
The owner then stated that he did not have customs documentation on the import, because at the time he purchased the animals from Serbia, an import permit was allegedly not required, given that Montenegro and Serbia formed a state union at the time.
However, the inspection report does not mention the conditions in which the animals were found at the time.
The Misdemeanor Court in Bijelo Polje confirmed that no misdemeanor proceedings were conducted against this person.
During a recent visit to the property, a CIN-CG associate unofficially confirmed that the bear was still on site, housed in an extremely cramped cage.
Zoos without permits, lack of cooperation from authorities
There are two zoos near Podgorica. The only one that has been on the register of zoos of the Veterinary, Phytosanitary and Food Safety Administration (Veterinary Administration) since 2023 is run by Miljan Milickovic.
However, no zoo in Montenegro currently holds an EPA permit.
This indicates a lack of effective coordination among the competent institutions. Namely, in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act, keeping animals in zoos, aquariums, terrariums, pools or cages requires only an EPA permit.
"We are aware that the veterinary and sanitary conditions for keeping wild animals in zoos are also prescribed by the Animal Welfare Law, and the fulfillment of these conditions is determined by the Veterinary Administration, by decision, with the prior consent of the administration responsible for nature protection," the Agency states.
A CIN-CG reporter recently visited these two zoos. One charges five euros for admission, while the other charges three. In addition, birthday and wedding celebrations are organized at these locations.
While waiting for the permit, trade is booming
Both zoos near Podgorica were subject to environmental inspection during 2022 and 2023.
During a 2022 inspection of one of them, inspectors found numerous animal species, including: a royal python (Python regius), a Mexican milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum annulata), a Burmese python and a reticulated python (Python reticulatus), a pink cockatoo, a rosella parrot (Platycercus eximius), a macaw, an albino boa constrictor, and a red kangaroo (Osphranter rufus).
"According to the owner, he did not submit a request for the animals he reported to the Agency, which were not covered by the permit, because adequate conditions had not yet been created on the property to meet the prescribed criteria for issuing a permit," the environmental inspection report states.
Regarding the origin of the animals, the owner stated that some were given to him as gifts from private owners or citizens, while he acquired others by purchase, after which they were handed over to him for care.
A misdemeanor proceeding is underway against him before the Misdemeanor Court in Podgorica.
In another zoo, during an inspection in 2023, the presence of several animal species without a proper permit was found, including deer (Cervidae), foxes (Vulpes vulpes), owls (Strigiformes), buzzards (Buteo buteo), monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and wallabies (Notamacropus).
However, according to information CIN-CG received from the Minor Offences Court in Podgorica, no proceedings have been initiated against this company and its owner.
Key problem - lack of state shelter
According to observations by the environmental inspection and field visits by CIN-CG journalists, the same species of wild and protected animals often appear in different locations in Montenegro, indicating the existence of a black market within the country.
Unfortunately, animals are victims of illegal keeping, which is most often motivated by profit. They often suffer during illegal transport across countries, and these living beings - who by their nature should move freely - are locked in cramped cages, without ever having committed any "criminal act".
However, until Montenegro gets a state animal shelter, there is no basic infrastructure that would enable a serious fight against illegal keeping, transport and trafficking of animals.
"The adoption of the new Law on Nature Protection, which is expected soon, will create the prerequisites for solving this problem," the Environmental Protection Agency states.
They point out that the new law will establish clear guidelines for the construction of a state-run shelter. The agency has already secured a 10.000 square meter plot and complete project documentation according to European standards for the construction of the shelter.
"With the help of the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development and the Ecofund, funds have been provided for the construction of the shelter, the construction of which is expected to begin in the middle of this year, after the procedures have been completed," the EPA added.
As a reminder, the establishment of a state animal shelter is an obligation under Chapter 27 within the framework of Montenegro's accession negotiations with the European Union.
The case of Nikola the lion, who was found in Budva in early 2022, is well-known. The lion, for whom it was never determined how he crossed the border, was first confined in the Shelter for Abandoned and Lost Animals in Podgorica, then in the premises of the Regional Waterworks administration building, until experts from the Netherlands arrived. Thanks to the efforts of individuals, Nikola the lion is now running across the vast expanses of a reserve in Africa.
However, this is an isolated case - most animals do not meet such a happy outcome.
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