The Civil Guard arrested two people and seized dozens of protected and invasive species in Cádiz, transported in appalling conditions. These have been placed in the care of BIOPARC Fuengirola, a leading collaborating center in Andalusia.
Four African pygmy dormouse specimens have been transferred to BIOPARC Valencia, where the technical team is working to recover them.
El trafficking of protected species It is a scourge that continues to accompany us and affects us More than 4.000 species According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), various institutions are joining forces to eradicate this Illegal trade with devastating effects on biodiversity and animals involved. And, at the same time, a call to responsibility of people to stop these horrible practices because these Exotic animals should never be acquired as pets.
We must raise awareness to prevent this exotic pet-keeping, which has terrible consequences for these animals and biodiversity.
A few weeks ago, the coordinated action of the Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) from Cadiz and Tenerife with the services of SEPRONA and the Fiscal and Border Analysis and Investigation Unit (UDAIFF), managed to thwart illegal introduction in the Canary Islands of a backpack with 11 boxes piled up containing various animals of invasive alien species and protected. As well as arrest a couple for crimes against flora and fauna, trafficking of species, and animal abuse.
The animals were found in poor condition and were transferred to BIOPARC Fuengirola as an authorized collaborating entity. Once there, the technical team was able to carry out the identification of various reptiles such as monitor lizards and snakes, insects, rodents or sugar gliders and subsequently house them in the facilities providing the necessary care. In the seizure were found 5 African pygmy dormouse specimens (Graphiurus murinus) of which unfortunately one did not manage to survive and the rest have arrived at BIOPARC Valencia.
The group consists of one male and three females.
These beautiful and tiny rodents is in a delicate situation and the animal care staff is working hard to recover them. It is enabling an enclosure in the area that recreates the savannah with the aim that they can soon be incorporated into this suitable environment for promote their well-being and natural behavior.
The African pygmy dormouse is included in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a Threatened Species and its habitat is distributed throughout much of eastern and southern Africa.
The BIOPARCs, with the Fundación and the parks of Fuengirola, Valencia and the Gijón Aquarium, they have as objective the conservation of species, while being platforms for awareness of society.
We must raise awareness of these particularly serious cases for biodiversity.
The massacre of animals during capture and also the damage to the ecosystems where they are introduced as invasive, harming and even destroying native species, in many cases endemic. A business that represents one of the most lucrative environmental crimes of the world and that, once again, is in our hands to stop.
Wild species are not pets, no matter how cute they may seem to us. It is crucial report this illegal market, powered by social media, in addition to the exotic “petism” that feeds it And the main victim is the animal itself. With education and love and respect for animals and nature, we will achieve this.
