Protected animals 'stuffed'
Lions, tigers, giraffes and white rhinos found
AN EIGHT-month investigation by the Guardia Civil in Alicante province into the illegal trade of animals has led to the seizure of more than 200 examples of stuffed protected species.
A spokesman for the Guardia Civil explained that some of the animals which had been shot are in danger of extinction including tigers, rhinoceroses and an African elephant.
He explained that officers from the SEPRONA nature protection force launched an operation last year when they discovered a ‘proliferation’ of adverts on the internet from taxidermists for the sale of protected species, even though this is banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
They found that most the notices contained the same phone number – which belonged to a construction firm in Alicante. Officers arranged for a viewing of the pieces on offer and were directed to a warehouse on an industrial estate on the outskirts of the city.
The spokesman explained that the owner of the company turned out to be the vendor – and he had a collection of 60 stuffed animals from Africa and the Iberian Peninsula in the warehouse.
The officers found that the animals have been prepared by a taxidermist working from a villa in Mutxamiel. He was offering his services via the internet ‘without having any professional qualifications’.
When he stuffed the animals ‘he had no legal means to dispose of their body parts’ and these were dumped in the sewers ‘with the risk that this supposed for public health’.
Officers raided the property and found numerous stuffed animals – many of which are protected under CITES – such as lions, a white rhinoceros, hippopotamuses, Bengal tigers, giraffes, etc.
The spokesman explained that trafficking in these species is a ‘serious criminal offence’.
He noted that it has become one of the most lucrative activities for international criminals, generating around 90 billion dollars a year, according to Interpol.
He said that six people are being investigated by the Guardia Civil for trafficking protected species and crimes against animals as part of the investigation.