File photo of a great grey owl: TTCrimes against protected species of plants and animals are on the rise in Sweden, police said on Tuesday. Among the most common crimes is theft of owl eggs and rare orchids, which are resold on the black market. An adult great grey owl can fetch "upwards of a million kronor" when sold online, according to Bassini. Bassini said that police were currently carrying out 130 investigations into species protection offences. These ranged from thefts of wild eggs and orchids, particularly in northern Sweden, to illegal trade of imported reptiles, which is a problem in the south.

Source: The Local September 13, 2017 10:07 UTC