Swift action has been taken in an attempt to save the Iberian Lynx

The programme was repeated on Monday, 6 June, 2005, at 2030 BST.

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Every year tens of thousands of birds are shot or trapped in Italy as they migrate across Europe.

The hunters are breaking both Italian and European law but are willing to risk prosecution in order to carry on their century's old custom of bird hunting. And it is big business.

In the north of Italy birds such as robins and thrushes are illegally sold to restaurants as an expensive delicacy.

While some Italian hunters are contributing to the extinction of endangered birds, hunters in Portugal are helping to preserve the Iberian Lynx, Europe's most endangered animal.

The hunters are working there with environmentalists to restore the rabbit population, the wild cat's main food supply.