The Civil Guard of the Command of the palmswithin the framework of Operation ÉRPON has intervened on May 4, 2023 in the tenerife island, various live specimens, turtle shells, frozen dead specimens and eggsall of them protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) when carrying outr a house search in a private property owned by the detainee in the municipality of Güimar, Tenerife island (Santa Cruz de Tenerife).
The investigation began in September 2022 following the seizure of a CITES specimen in Operation NAJA-GC in Gran Canaria, proving the sale of the copy from Tenerife. This finding allowed SEPRONA to obtain different police evidence to prove that the detainee had committed an alleged crime against flora and fauna.
Irregularities detected
The investigation phase consisted of the analysis of the documentation provided to protect the animals, proving that the possession of many of the specimens did not comply with current regulations, lacking registration as a zoological nucleus, as well as the recognition of the facility as a center enabled for the reception of invasive alien speciesand finally, the owner had not made the responsible declaration regarding the possession of invasive species either
For all these reasons and after obtaining the appropriate injunction from the Examining Court number one of teldethe SEPRONA of the Las Palmas Command went to the municipality of Güimar, in Tenerife, where they proceeded to search the house and arrest a man.
In the search, the agents found a total of twenty-eight live specimens, (one spotted tortoise, one dragon tortoise, fourteen horned iguanas, one pig-nosed tortoise, three diamondback tortoises, one African spurred tortoise, two red-footed tortoises, two elongated tortoises, one giant solomon skink, and two tortoises radiated)two turtle shells, three frozen dead specimens and ten eggs, all of them protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), listed in APPENDICES I and II of the Convention and an incubator in use with turtle eggs and a hatchling less than two weeks old, as well as three live non-CITES specimens, (one New Guinea snapping turtle and two Aguajal turtles)which due to their state of conservation and to guarantee their attention are also seized, all of them being deposited in the Neotropical Foundation of the island of Tenerife.
Fourteen of the Appendix I specimens are invasive alien species (horned iguana), of which thirteen have microchip markingverifying that the animal sold in Gran Canaria belonged to the same game These animals are not registered in the animal identification database or the identification of the veterinarian who performed the implantthis being an essential requirement since the placement of the microchip is a clinical act that can only be carried out by veterinarians.
For the deposit of CITES specimens at a national level, the network of rescue centers (CITES) and potential associated centers that meet the standards for the accommodation and care of animals in zoos of the Iberian Association of Zoos are available. and Aquariums (AIZA).
The General Sub-directorate for Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge of the Government of Spain appoints the Neotrópico Foundation to provide support in identification, veterinary examination, transfer and as a Depositary Rescue Center for the seized specimens, leaving all the intervened at the disposal of the Investigating Court 1 of Telde.
Illegal breeding and death of an animal
The circumstance occurs that the farm subject to inspection has been used for the illegal reproduction and breeding of specimens of different species and degree of protection subject to the CITES Convention. On the other hand, in later days and as a consequence of the precarious state of health and weakness, the death of one of the intervened specimens occurred.
Once the respective technical reports from the Administrative Authorities were obtained, SEPRONA determined that most of the specimens are in an irregular situation due to the lack of documentation and marking, breaching regulations on trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora and invasive alien species.
The animals were kept in inappropriate animal health conditions and without adequate protection against inclement weather. Many animals had very poor nutritional status and water supplythe aquatic species were found in small-sized facilities, the water was cloudy, eutrophied and smelly, traceability cannot be established and no record of entry and exit of animals is accredited in breach of the Law with respect to animal health and welfare.
in this performance SEPRONA had the collaboration of staff from the Neotrópico Foundation appointed by the General Subdirectorate for Terrestrial Biodiversity and Navy of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge of the Government of Spain, staff of the General Directorate of Livestock, Industries, Registry and Animal Welfare Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Government of the Canary Islands and veterinary staff appointed by the Güimar City Council and various units of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Civil Guard Command.
For said actionsThe Civil Guard proceeded to initiate a report for the alleged commission of a crime against flora and fauna (art. 333 and 334), crimes against animals (art. 340 bis) and another crime of usurpation of public functions and intrusion (art. 403).
At the same time, it has been realized Canarian Agency for the Protection of the Natural EnvironmentGeneral Directorate of Livestock, Provincial Dependency of Customs and Excise Taxes and Güimar Town Hall for alleged administrative violations.
