An illegal zoo housing 150 exotic animals of 56 species has been uncovered after men tried to sell the endangered creatures online.
Police launched an investigation into the site in Nules, eastern Spain, a few months ago when they spotted an advert for exotic animals on social media.
Asian otters, porcupines, meerkats, and kangaroos were some of the species on offer.
Inquiries also uncovered several videos showing a breeder of endangered animals appearing with leopards, owls, and llamas.
Officers searched several plots and warehouses and found that neither of the two men behind the illegal enterprise had a breeder’s permit or a zoo authorisation.
The Guardia Civil are investigating the pair, aged 30 and 35, for trafficking protected animals and smuggling.
Investigators indicated that the detainees kept the animals as a hobby in addition to selling them.
None of the exotic animals were officially registered.
The creatures were found to be in good condition and ‘well cared for’ despite being kept in cages.
An illegal zoo housing 150 exotic animals of 56 species has been uncovered after men tried to sell the endangered creatures online
Officers launched an investigation into the site in Nules, eastern Spain, a few months ago when they spotted an advert for exotic animals on social media. The Civil Guard discovered through the advertisement that several protected species were being offered for sale, including the Asian otter, as well as agoutis and kinkajou
Other discoveries included a zebra, toucans, cranes, mongooses, macaws and porcupines.
Two of the three macaws had been reported stolen from a town in Almeria province.
The Guardia Civil seized all of the animals who were said to have a market value in excess of €70,000.
A Nules court will now handle the prosecution of the two men.
A National Wildlife Service sergeant explained that the animals have been seized but remain in the custody of their owner while negotiations are underway to transfer them to various zoos and animal protection centers.
Valencia Civil Guard Command Colonel Martínez Ros explained that this illegal zoological center contained not only protected species but also others with different degrees of protection.
Among them, he cited two servals, a zebra, two toucans, two crowned cranes, six turacos, four ibises, two meerkats, three mongooses, an opossum, two mouflons, five owls, a dromedary, three macaws, five kinkajous, and two porcupines, among others.
Agents from the armed institute discovered this clandestine zoo a few months ago after seeing an advertisement on a website offering the sale of protected animals.
The Civil Guard discovered through this advertisement that several protected species were being offered for sale, including the Asian otter, as well as agoutis and kinkajou.
Babies of several protected species, such as meerkats, kangaroos, and caracals, were also being offered, Siglo XXI reported.
After reviewing the employment history of the person who posted the advertisements and conducting an operation and follow-up, they located another man for whom he worked and who was the owner of the illegal zoo.