The Spanish Civil Guard has carried out an operation against the illegal trafficking of protected species, achieving the recovery of 19 exotic felines and the arrest of two individuals in Mallorca.
The couple was breeding and selling animals such as caracals (African lynxes), clouded leopards, and hybrid species resulting from crosses with domestic cats.
## Operation and discovery of exotic felines
During the operation, authorities confiscated:
– A caracal.
– Two clouded leopards.
– 16 hybrid felines.
The animals were being offered online, demonstrating the expansion of this illegal market on social media.
### An international wildlife trafficking network
Investigations suggest that this is just the tip of the iceberg of an international network trafficking protected species, including white tigers and black panthers. According to the Civil Guard, the animals were coming from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, being illegally brought into the European Union.
During the raids, 40 passports from Russia, Belarus, and China were found, reinforcing suspicions of a broad illegal importation scheme.
According to information from WWF’s website, Spain is one of the global ports for this type of trafficking. From Algeciras, the Canary Islands, and Valencia, it serves as the gateway to Europe due to its proximity to other continents where the countries of origin of the stolen species are located.
### Sale on social media and high-value animals
The couple used digital platforms to advertise the sale of lynxes, hyenas, and pumas.
Among the rarest specimens, a clouded leopard was offered for 60,000 euros (68,000 dollars), one of the most exotic species.
### Fight against wildlife trafficking
This case highlights the need to strengthen controls on the illegal trafficking of exotic animals, a trade that puts global biodiversity at risk and threatens the conservation of vulnerable species.
