A judicial source said Wednesday, “French police have arrested an Austrian man at a Paris airport after he flew in from Mexico with 80 small birds stashed in his hand luggage.”

“Although all but one of the birds were still alive when they were discovered at Roissy airport, a further 55 have since died,” the source added.

The birds were hidden in three bags and were discovered on Friday. The Austrian collector is currently facing court action in Germany also. However, he claims to be very passionate about the birds.

“The birds, many of which feed on nectar, likely died because of the “transport conditions and the stress of their capture,” the source said.

There was special permission granted to allow the birds to leave the airport rather than having them to face the quarantine conditions. The avian cargo was placed in the complete care of vets before the birds that survived were taken to a permanent home this Wednesday.