Spanish police announced on Monday the arrest of two individuals suspected of selling exotic cats online, including protected species like white tigers and pumas.
As part of the operation, authorities also confiscated 19 wild felines.
The suspects, a couple residing on the island of Majorca, were allegedly involved in breeding desert lynxes and servals—wild cats native to Africa—as well as hybrid breeds created by crossing these wild cats with domestic ones, according to a police statement. The Majorca Daily Bulletin reported that the pair are Russian nationals.
Authorities revealed that the couple’s operation was only “the tip of the iceberg” of a broader international wildlife trafficking network.
This network involved breeders, transporters, and veterinarians smuggling protected species such as white tigers and black panthers, the Spanish Civil Guard and Interior Ministry stated.
Investigators believe the animals were smuggled into the European Union from countries like Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, often entering via Poland using falsified documents.
The couple reportedly advertised animals for sale on social media, offering species such as European lynxes, hyenas, and pumas.
Police released photos showing the exotic cats confined in enclosures and officers gathering evidence.
Among the seized animals were a caracal—a desert lynx with distinctive ear tufts—two servals, and 16 hybrid felines.
Authorities also discovered a clouded leopard listed for sale at €60,000 (about $68,000), one of the rarest and most elusive cat species in the world.
In addition, more than 40 animal passports from Russia, Belarus, and China were confiscated during the raid.
Police noted that breeding and keeping exotic cats as pets is increasingly common in Russia and Ukraine, with the trend spreading to other parts of the world.
However, they warned that these animals require large spaces, are highly aggressive, and can pose serious risks to both people and other animals, often leading owners to abandon them.
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