Authorities Dismantles Private Collection Of Exotic Animals

The Guardia Civil has dismantled a backstage postulation of exotic animals successful nan municipality of Nules, Castellón, aft investigating 2 individuals who were recovered to person much than 150 specimens from complete 50 species, immoderate of them endangered, nan unit reported connected Tuesday 26 August.

Officers discovered nan “illegal zoo” aft spotting an online advertisement respective months agone offering protected animals for sale, portion of ongoing efforts to forestall nan forbidden waste and acquisition of type covered by nan Convention connected International Trade successful Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The advert included animals specified arsenic Asian otters, agoutis, and kinkajous, arsenic good arsenic offspring of meerkats, kangaroos, and caracals. Investigators besides obtained videos showing nan alleged breeder pinch endangered species, including leopards, owls, llamas, and ibises.

After verifying nan advert, nan Guardia Civil identified a resident successful nan state of Valencia and located a crippled successful Nules containing cages matching those seen online. A 2nd personification progressive successful keeping and allegedly trading these animals was besides identified.

Intense search

Searches were carried retired crossed respective land and warehouses successful nan town, revealing that neither individual held breeder permits aliases zoological centre authorisation, and nan animals were not officially registered.

In total, complete 150 specimens from 56 type from 5 continents were seized. Some were listed nether CITES Appendix I, receiving nan highest level of world protection, including 2 ring-tailed lemurs, 2 Asian otters, and a Bali myna.

Other protected type were besides found, including a zebra, 2 servals, 2 toucans, 2 crowned cranes, six turacos, 4 ibises, 2 meerkats, 3 mongooses, an opossum, 2 American mouflons, 5 owls, a dromedary, 3 macaws, and 5 kinkajous.

Two of nan 3 macaws recovered had antecedently been reported stolen successful a municipality successful Almería.

At slightest €70,000

The provisional valuation of nan harm caused to wildlife internationally exceeds €2 million, while nan marketplace worth of nan seized specimens is estimated astatine astir €70,000.

Two men, aged 30 and 35, are nether investigation for offences against wildlife, including trafficking successful protected type and smuggling. The investigation was led by nan Guardia Civil’s Nature Protection Service, pinch officials from nan Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge assisting successful identifying and cataloguing nan animals.

The lawsuit files person been handed complete to nan Nules Court of First Instance and Instruction No. 2.