Spanish police stated Monday that they’d arrested two folks suspected of promoting on-line unique cats together with protected species comparable to white tigers and pumas, and had confiscated 19 felines within the operation.
Officers arrested the couple on the island of Majorca, the place they’re suspected of elevating desert lynxes and servals, a wild cat native to Africa, in addition to hybrid species created by crossing these breeds with home cats, police stated in a press release. In response to the Majorca Day by day Bulletin, the 2 suspects arrested are Russian.
Additional investigations discovered that their actions have been simply “the tip of the iceberg” of a world trafficking operation of protected species comparable to white tigers and black panthers “involving breeders, transporters and veterinarians,” the Spanish Civil Guard and Inside Ministry stated in a information launch.
“A lot of the animals supplied on the market got here from nations comparable to Russia, Belarus and Ukraine to be smuggled into the European Union,” they added.
Police suspect the animals have been introduced into the European Union through Poland from Belarus, and have been then supplied throughout the bloc with false documentation.
Among the many different species the couple supplied on the market on its social media accounts have been European lynxes, hyenas and pumas. Officers launched a number of photos displaying the cats in enclosures and officers gathering proof.
Police stated the suspects had supplied a clouded leopard, one of many world’s most uncommon and elusive cats, at a value of 60,000 euros ($68,000).
Officers additionally seized a caracal, a desert lynx recognized for its distinctive lengthy ear tufts, in addition to two servals and 16 hybrid felines.
Additionally they seized greater than 40 animal passports from Russia, Belarus and China as a part of the operation.
Police stated that makes an attempt to breed and maintain unique cats as pets are widespread in Russia and Ukraine, and the pattern has expanded to different nations.
“These species require a variety of house,” police stated. “Moreover, they’re very aggressive and may pose a hazard to folks or different animals, so many individuals find yourself eliminating these specimens.”
