Jeffrey Lendrum spent nearly four decades traveling the world in search of rare bird eggs, becoming one of the most notorious wildlife smugglers on the planet. Operating across multiple continents, he targeted nesting sites from the African savanna to the Arctic Circle, dangling from helicopters and scaling cliffs to collect eggs from birds of prey and other protected species. This film follows Lendrum’s journey from a volunteer bird surveyor growing up in Southern Africa to infamous international smuggler. He was arrested multiple times while attempting to carry eggs across international borders, each time found with eggs wrapped around his body to avoid detection. Fines and prison sentences did little to deter him. Rare eggs can command high prices, particularly within falconry markets in parts of the Middle East. Species such as peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) and gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus), famed for their speed and strength, can command price tags into the tens of thousands of dollars. Wild birds, often perceived as genetically superior and carrying cultural value, sustain the illegal trade. Removing eggs from wild nests can have serious consequences for vulnerable species, particularly raptors with slow reproduction rates. Lendrum died in 2022, but the egg trade continues. International enforcement operations have seized tens of thousands of illegally collected eggs in recent years, from raptors and other species, highlighting the scale and persistence of the illicit egg trade. Mongabay’s Video Team wants to cover questions and topics that matter to you. Are there any inspiring people, urgent issues, or local stories…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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