Spanish police have recovered dozens of exotic animals, including two caimans, three pythons, eight iguanas and 46 giant African snails, after discovering a private zoo on the Canary island of Gran Canaria.
Officers from the Guardia Civil’s environmental division, Seprona, began investigating after hearing that a resident of the central town of San Bartolomé de Tirajana had died recently, possibly leaving behind a large and illegal menagerie.
When officers visited the property, they found 139 animals, of which 118 were classed as invasive species, and 21 as dangerous animals.
In a statement, the Guardia Civil said: “Among the species seized were a ball python, two Burmese pythons, a dwarf caiman, two bearded dragons, two Greek tortoises, 34 crayfish, a leopard gecko, 46 giant African snails, seven snakes, a bullfrog, a long-necked turtle, eight iguanas, a spectacled caiman, 23 red-eared terrapins, 13 blue-tongued skinks, and three African spurred tortoises.”
Police also found 200 rats, 100 mice and “an indeterminate number” of cockroaches, worms and crickets.
“One hundred and eighteen of the species recovered have great reproductive capacity and pose a serious problem to the ecosystem,” the statement said. “They can also pass on diseases that are dangerous for humans.”
The confiscated animals were taken to Cocodrilo Park, a nearby exotic animal rescue centre.
The force said that, according to Spanish law, exotic invasive species are defined as “those which are introduced or established into an ecosystem or natural or semi-natural habitat, and which are agents of change and a threat to native biological diversity whether through invasive behaviour or the risk of genetic contamination”.
