Spanish police seize 1,000 stuffed wild animals including 400 protected and extinct species from private taxidermy collection worth £24million on the black market

  • Over 1,000 stuffed animal found in private collection, Valencia, Spain 
  • Investigator say the finding is worth a whopping 29 million euros (£24 million) 
  • The collection includes 198 ivory elephant tusks and cheetahs as well as nearly extinct species.

Spain’s civil Guard is currently investigating the discovery of a private taxidermy museum with over 1,000 stuffed animals, including at least 405 protected species. Valencia.

In a statement, authorities today stated that they had found elephant tusks as well as cheetahs and white antelopes. This is one of the largest protected stuffed specimens of Spain.

It added that the collection is worth a whopping 29 million euros (£24 million) and that the person being investigated may face charges for smuggling as well as those related to the protection of flora and fauna in the municipality.

A warehouse owner in Spain's eastern Valencia is under investigation after a private collection with more than 1,000 stuffed animals

An investigation is underway into a Spanish warehouse owner who owns a private collection that includes more than 1,000 stuffed animal toys.

The finding of elephant tusks, cheetah, white antelopes and more is the largest of protected stuffed specimens in Spain

Spain’s largest collection of protected stuffed animals is represented by the discovery of white antelopes, elephant tusks, and cheetah tusks.

Investigating agents found the stuffed animals in two warehouses extending over 50,000 square metres on the outskirts of Bétera, a small town north of the eastern coastal city of Valencia. 

Of 1,090 stuffed animals that were found, 405 of them belonged to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).

The scimitar oryx was also included, otherwise known as Sahara oryx. This stunning, white antelope is once very common across North Africa.

In 2000, the extinction was announced for the species. International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

At least two additional species are also in danger of extinction were included in this collection, the Addax (also known as the Sahara desert’s’screwhorn antilope’) and the Bengal cat.  

The collection found by Spain's Civil Guard is worth a whopping 29 million euros (£24 million)

The collection found by Spain’s Civil Guard is worth a whopping 29 million euros (£24 million)

Agents also collected stuffed animals of the cheetah and leopard as well as large ivory tusks derived from elephants.

Agents first discovered a private collection in the region last November and began to investigate.   

The Civil Guard stated that it would examine whether there are documents supporting the claim of ownership.

Advertisement