Charlie Smith
POLICE in Andalucia are investigating after an illegal zoo with ostriches, turtles and porcupines has been discovered.
Cops are looking into a group of seven people in Malaga, Sevilla and Cordoba, as well as Badajoz, Valencia, Zamora and Caparica (Portugal).
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They are accused of illegally supplying exotic animals, which also include owls, cranes, ibis and other birds.
A Guardia Civil probe, named ‘Operation Illuminatis’, saw Seprona officers dismantle the zoo in Extremadura, which was visited by local schools.
It comes after cops found fake permits for at least 14 animals at facilities in Villafranca de los Barros in February.
After documentation relating to species’ origin were also missing, police then launched Operation Illuminatis.
The probe is part of a wider Guardia Civil operation named ‘Celacanto’, which has seen 203 people arrested and over 2,000 specimens of protected species seized.
Among the haul are 543 pieces of elephant tusks worth €400,000, turtle shells and animal skins.
Meanwhile 313 animals have been recovered alive, including those of Extremadura.
