Northwest of the city of Valencia, Spanish police have discovered a private collection of 1,090 stuffed animals, including elephants, rhinoceroses and polar bears, in a huge warehouse. The Guardia Civil announced on its website on Sunday that it is the largest private collection of its kind ever discovered in Spain.
In total, 405 of the animals belonged to protected species, it was said. The animals were found in a 50,000-square-foot hall, about twice the size of a large furniture store or seven football fields. There they were presented in a lavish environment like in a museum.
Among others, cheetahs, leopards, lions, lynxes, snow leopards and crocodiles were found, as well as extinct animals such as the African sable antelope or nearly extinct animals such as the Bengal tiger.
Police investigating smuggling
It’s still unknown why the huge collection, which also includes 198 elephant tusks (pictured below), was just discovered in the small town of Betera, about 20 kilometers northwest of Valencia. The police also initially did not provide information about the owner, who was under investigation for smuggling and violation of laws protecting endangered species.
worth 30 million euros on the black market
It is now being checked where the stuffed animals come from, according to the organization. The owner, a well-known businessman in Valencia, said he inherited most of the animals from his father, Las Provincias newspaper reported. The police estimated the black market value of the collection at almost 30 million euros.
Source: Krone
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