Agents of the Civil Guard of Las Palmas have intervened in a farm in Tenerife 46 specimens protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), including 14 invasive exotic species of concern to the Canary Islands.
The intervention, which the Civil Guard reported on Tuesday, was carried out on May 4 during the search of a private farm owned by a person who has been arrested in the Tenerife municipality of Güímar, and the animals have been transferred to the rescue center of the Fundación Neotrópico de Tenerife. The Civil Guard explains that, as a consequence of the precarious state of health and weakness, one of the animals died days after the intervention.
The investigation began in September 2022 after the seizure of a CITES specimen in the NAJA-GC operation, which took place in Gran Canaria and during which it was proven that the specimen had been acquired in Tenerife. This finding allowed Seprona to obtain police evidence to prove that the detainee had committed an alleged crime against flora and fauna, explained in a statement from the Civil Guard.
The agents have proven that the possession of many of the specimens violated the regulations, lacking the registration of the farm as a zoological nucleus, as well as the recognition of the facility as a center enabled for the reception of invasive exotic species, and the owner had not carried out the responsible statement regarding the possession of invasive species
In the record, 28 live specimens were found (1 spotted turtle, 1 dragon tortoise, 14 horned iguanas, 1 pig-nosed turtle, 3 diamondback turtles, 1 African spurred tortoise, 2 red-footed tortoises, 2 elongated tortoises, 1 giant solomon skink and 2 radiated tortoises).
Two turtle shells, three frozen dead specimens and ten eggs were also found, all protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Likewise, on the farm there was an incubator in use with turtle eggs and a hatchling less than two weeks old, as well as three non-CITES live specimens (a New Guinea snapping turtle and two Aguajal charapita turtles), which due to their state of conservation and to guarantee their care were also seized.
Of the specimens seized, 14 are invasive exotic species (horned iguana), of which thirteen have microchip marking, verifying that the animal sold in Gran Canaria belonged to the same game.
These animals were not registered in the animal identification database or the identification of the veterinarian who performed the implant, this being an essential requirement since the placement of the microchip is a clinical act that can only be carried out by veterinarians.
In a statement it is commented that the farm under inspection has been used for the illegal breeding and breeding of specimens of different species and degree of protection subject to Cites.
Seprona has determined that most of the specimens were in an irregular situation due to the lack of documentation and marking, and were kept in inappropriate animal health conditions and without adequate protection against inclement weather.
Many animals had a very poor nutritional status and water supply, the aquatic species were in small-sized facilities, the water was cloudy, eutrophied and smelly, and traceability cannot be established and there is no accredited entry and exit record of the animals. animals in breach of the Law regarding animal health and welfare.
