In the municipality of Nules (Castellón province), Civil Guard officers have shut down a large illegal zoo. During the operation, 150 animals representing 56 different species from all continents were confiscated. Among them were both exotic and endangered species.
The animals discovered included leopards, zebras, ring-tailed lemurs, Asian otters, and Bali starlings—birds with a wild population of fewer than a hundred. Other residents of the illegal zoo were agoutis, kinkajous, meerkats, kangaroos, and caracals. All these species are protected under the international Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and some are included in the list of especially protected species.
The investigation began after an anonymous online advertisement for rare animals was discovered several months ago. Police determined that the ad offered species protected by international law for sale. As a result of the inquiry, a resident of the Valencian Community linked to the listing was identified.
In the course of further action, police found a property in Nules with enclosures matching those featured in the online ad. The operation involved nature protection specialists as well as representatives from the Ministry for Ecological Transition, who were responsible for the identification and inventory of the animals.
During the searches, not only rare species were found, but also other exotic animals: serval, toucans, crowned cranes, turacos, ibises, meerkats, mongooses, opossum, American mouflons, owls, dromedary, macaws, kinkajou, porcupines, and many others. Some of the macaws had been reported stolen and were previously listed as missing in Almería.
Neither of the two suspects had an official permit to breed or keep the animals, nor were they registered as owners of a zoological establishment. All the animals were kept without the necessary documentation or proper records.
Experts have estimated the damage to wildlife at over two million euros. The market value of the confiscated animals reaches up to 70,000 euros per specimen. Two men, aged 30 and 35, are under investigation for the illegal trade in protected species and smuggling.
The case files have been submitted to the Court of First Instance and Instruction No. 2 in Nules. The operation became one of the largest in Spain in the fight against illegal trade in rare animals and highlights the ongoing issue of unlawful keeping of exotic species.
