Guardia Civil rescues two protected lynxes that had been sold illegally

The Guardia Civil has investigated a person as the alleged perpetrator of a crime related to the protection of flora, fauna and domestic animals, by possessing two lynxes of the “Caracal caracal” species, considered protected species. Likewise, the agents have investigated a man and a woman as alleged perpetrators of trafficking in protected species, as they are the sellers of the animals.

The investigation began when the Nature Protection Service of the Guardia Civil (SEPRONA) learned of the possible existence of two lynxes on a property in the municipality of Santiurde de Toranzo (Cantabria). The owner of these cats was even reportedly taking them for walks in public areas.

After several checks by the agents, they located a cage in the garden of a house, where the lynx of the “Caracal caracal” species were found. This species is included as a protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

For this reason, the agents asked the owner of the lynxes for various documentation, verifying that it did not prove their legitimate possession, as they did not have a CITES import permit or a certificate of captive breeding, among other irregularities.

Continuing with the investigations, the agents informed the General Subdirectorate of Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, the irregularities in the trade of protected species, as well as a violation of the law of repression of smuggling.

Subsequently, the agents verified that these animals had been sold in an establishment in the province of Toledo, for which reason SEPRONA officers travelled to the place.

Once there, they were able to verify that the lynxes had been sold without an invoice and without the documents proving their legal origin, for which reason they proceeded to instruct those responsible for the establishment as investigated, as alleged perpetrators of a crime related to the protection of flora, fauna and domestic animals, due to trafficking in protected species.

Due to these events, the Guardia Civil, together with the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, activated the protocol to assign the lynxes a place within the network of CITES rescue centres, which due to its characteristics and capacities would be more suitable to house them.

In this way, the staff of the APP Primadomus Foundation, with offices in Spain, the Netherlands and Germany, which has among its goals the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals, took care of the cats. Specifically, they have been transferred to the centre they have in the province of Alicante, located between Yecla and Villena.

The operation has been carried out by the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) of the Guardia Civil of Cantabria.

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