Spanish police mentioned Monday that that they had arrested two individuals suspected of promoting on-line unique cats together with protected species equivalent 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 mentioned in a press release. In line with the Majorca Daily Bulletin, the 2 suspects arrested are Russian.
Additional investigations discovered that their actions had been simply “the tip of the iceberg” of a global trafficking operation of protected species equivalent to white tigers and black panthers “involving breeders, transporters and veterinarians,” the Spanish Civil Guard and Inside Ministry mentioned in a news release.
“Many of the animals provided on the market got here from international locations equivalent to Russia, Belarus and Ukraine to be smuggled into the European Union,” they added.
Police suspect the animals had been introduced into the European Union through Poland from Belarus, and had been then provided throughout the bloc with false documentation.
Among the many different species the couple provided on the market on its social media accounts had been European lynxes, hyenas and pumas. Officials released several images exhibiting the cats in enclosures and officers collecting evidence.
Police mentioned the suspects had provided 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.
In addition they seized greater than 40 animal passports from Russia, Belarus and China as a part of the operation.
Police mentioned that makes an attempt to breed and preserve unique cats as pets are widespread in Russia and Ukraine, and the pattern has expanded to different international locations.
“These species require numerous house,” police mentioned. “Moreover, they’re very aggressive and may pose a hazard to individuals or different animals, so many individuals find yourself eliminating these specimens.”
