Exotic Cat Trade Gang Clased! – Cyprus Newspaper

A couple allegedly engaged in exotic cat trading on the Island of Mallorca in Spain, was arrested by the Spanish civilian guard police.

It was determined that the couple fed rare cats, including white tigers, pumalar and cloudy leopard, and sold rare cats through social media.

19 cats were seized in a raid of the couple’s house. Among the rescued animals are a pencil, two servals and 16 hybrid cats. Animals are temporarily placed in the last Servera Zoo in Mallorca, while in the coming days, Alicante will be transferred to a rescue center near.

Civil Guards said that this is only the visible part of a global criminal organization. Most of the animals introduced into the European Union illegally were brought from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, and the Belarus border of Poland was kidnapped and put into circulation with false documents.

Animals are advertised

Authorities, the couple’s social media accounts are very active and people from different countries reach them in this way, he said. The price of the cloudy leopard only 60 thousand euros (about 2 million TL) and is reported to be offered for sale over the internet. In the same accounts, other animals such as hyenas, desert lynx and Puma were also advertised.

According to the International Animal Welfare Fund (IFAW), the European Evotic Wildlife Trade is located at the center of the trade and illegal activities in this field are increasing. The presence of exotic animals as an indicator of luxury and status on social media is also fueling this demand.

However, according to experts, it is emphasized that the care of such cats is extremely difficult, they need very large areas and they are dangerous for both people and other animals due to their aggressive structures. For this reason, many people want to get rid of the animals they have.

This operation was said to be part of a wider investigation initiated in March. Within the scope of the same investigation, another person was examined on the grounds that he sold exotic animals on the internet.