Central Balkan National Park employees caught poachers near the Park
18 July 2025
An employee of the Park Directorate received yesterday a photo from a camera trap, which captured violators with long-barreled hunting weapons near the border of the Central Balkan National Park (CBNP) with the forest territories of the State Forestry Administration (SFA) - Teteven. A signal was immediately sent to the Director of Forestry and the Regional Department of the Ministry of Interior - Teteven. A joint operation was organized with the participation of employees of the Park Directorate and the Forestry Administration.
On the road in the Bryazovo area in the territory of Ribaritsa, Teteven Municipality, within the boundaries of the SFA - Teteven, the team found a parked all-terrain vehicle. During the operation in the same area, two men with hunting rifles were caught, who were found not to have hunting permits issued in accordance with the Hunting and Game Conservation Act. The offenders found on the spot did not resist and together with the team officers moved to the Ministry of Interior authorities for a search and further action.
During the search, two legally owned hunting rifles with optical sights, 18 pieces of ammunition for them, three knives, one masat, two rangefinders, a thermal imager, a whistle-type deer decoy, a headlamp, two flashlights, one bipod, plastic bags, gloves and rope were found. No killed animal was found among the searched vehicle and belongings.
During a subsequent patrol today of the area where the perpetrators were captured, a killed and prepared roe deer was found. An investigation was conducted on site by investigators and the animal was handed over for additional expertise.
According to Art. 43 of the Hunting and Game Protection Act, the movement of persons outside populated areas with a weapon removed from a holster and assembled is also considered hunting.
The Directorate of the Central Balkan National Park strongly condemns such poaching activities, regardless of whether they occur within the Park or outside it. According to the director, Georgi Krastev, in such situations, joint work with representatives of the forestry and hunting farms that border the Central Balkan, as well as with the Ministry of Interior bodies, is a guarantee of good results.
On the road in the Bryazovo area in the territory of Ribaritsa, Teteven Municipality, within the boundaries of the SFA - Teteven, the team found a parked all-terrain vehicle. During the operation in the same area, two men with hunting rifles were caught, who were found not to have hunting permits issued in accordance with the Hunting and Game Conservation Act. The offenders found on the spot did not resist and together with the team officers moved to the Ministry of Interior authorities for a search and further action.
During the search, two legally owned hunting rifles with optical sights, 18 pieces of ammunition for them, three knives, one masat, two rangefinders, a thermal imager, a whistle-type deer decoy, a headlamp, two flashlights, one bipod, plastic bags, gloves and rope were found. No killed animal was found among the searched vehicle and belongings.
During a subsequent patrol today of the area where the perpetrators were captured, a killed and prepared roe deer was found. An investigation was conducted on site by investigators and the animal was handed over for additional expertise.
According to Art. 43 of the Hunting and Game Protection Act, the movement of persons outside populated areas with a weapon removed from a holster and assembled is also considered hunting.
The Directorate of the Central Balkan National Park strongly condemns such poaching activities, regardless of whether they occur within the Park or outside it. According to the director, Georgi Krastev, in such situations, joint work with representatives of the forestry and hunting farms that border the Central Balkan, as well as with the Ministry of Interior bodies, is a guarantee of good results.
