Action against trade in protected species
Internet vendors face fines following investigation
A STUFFED caracal – also called the Persian lynx – and several pieces of ivory that were for sale on the internet have been seized by the Guardia Civil.
Five residents of Torrevieja and Elche face fines.
The duties of the Guardia Civil’s environmental service (SEPRONA) include investigating the illegal trade in protected species, which they noted is one of the principal causes of the disappearance of wildlife.
The Alicante team looked into stuffed examples including a caracal, a springbuck and a steenbok that a man from Torrevieja was advertising on a website.
The caracal is an African wildcat that is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the vendor did not have the required documentation authorising him to sell it.
He faces a criminal charge for an offence against flora and fauna, as well as a fine for breaking the law on contraband.
The springbuck and the steenbok were not seized because they are not covered by the CITES.
In parallel, SEPRONA officers from Elche were investigating internet sales of objects made wholly or partly from ivory, since it is part of a CITES protected animal and so ownership, sale, acquisition, distribution or trade of them is regulated.
Officers found three vendors in Elche and one in Torrevieja who did not have the required documentation to prove they owned them legitimately.
They all face fines under the contraband law.
The pieces seized were a ivory crocodile and bracelet worth €680; ivory miniatures and two Oriental style human figures worth €3,000; a multipurpose knife with an ivory handle worth €250; and a 28piece ivory set of dominoes worth €300.
All the items seized have been handed over for authentication to specialists at the Alicante customs trade inspection service (SOIVRE).