The authorities found a species of tarantula attached to his body the size of a hand. These animals, which are sold as pets, apparently were extracted from Madre de Dios.
A Korean citizen was intercepted while trying to leave Peru with 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes, and 9 bullet ants from the Amazon, all camouflaged in two belts and the tarantulas attached to his body. The National Forest and Wildlife Service (Serfor) and other authorities intervened with the foreigner at the Jorge Chávez International Airport.
The intervention took place on November 8, when the 28-year-old tourist was trying to take these specimens out of the country in Ziploc bags, reinforced with adhesive tape. The foreigner planned to travel to France and then head to South Korea, but he caught the attention of the airport security personnel at the Jorge Chávez International Airport because his stomach seemed swollen. When asked to lift his shirt, it was discovered that he had the belts with the animals.
Personnel from Serfor, together with customs authorities and the National Police, verified that there were 35 adult tarantulas the size of a hand, 285 juvenile tarantulas of the Theraphosidae species, and 110 centipedes. Additionally, they found nine bullet ants in small plastic containers.
Walter Silva, a wildlife specialist at Serfor, detailed that all the animals the Korean citizen was trying to take out of the country are native to the Peruvian Amazon. Regarding the tarantulas, he pointed out that they are part of the illegal wildlife trade, and explained that these are on the country’s list of threatened species and were illegally extracted.
Silva also noted that this type of trafficking generates millions of dollars worldwide, as these animals fetch high prices when sold as pets or to collectors. He also mentioned that around Christmas, these cases affecting Peruvian wildlife become increasingly common.
Following the detention of the tourist, the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation. As for the specimens, they were all placed in safekeeping, as the authorities suspect they were extracted from the Madre de Dios region.
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