France: a Moroccan from Belgium arrested for trafficking rare animals

The environmental police officers of Indre-et-Loire, accompanied by gendarmes and customs officers, positioned themselves on Wednesday at the exit of the Sorigny toll booth on the A10 to carry out vehicle checks in order to limit the trafficking of protected species from North Africa. This is how they stopped a Belgian van, driven by a Moroccan who was returning from vacation, and discovered two birds, European Goldfinches, an endangered species in Morocco and therefore protected, in the trunk of the vehicle, reports France Bleu.

The birds had no identification papers, were not banded, and were in poor health and physical condition. Questioned, the Moroccan explained that he has owned them for three years and made the round trip Belgium-Morocco with them. The environmental police proceeded to seize these birds, which will receive appropriate care before being released into their natural habitat, assured the head of the environmental police, Stéphane Loyau. They were entrusted to the association "Sauve qui plume".

Four Greek tortoises kept in plastic boxes were also seized. Also in poor health and physical condition, they were entrusted to the Museum of Natural History in Tours. Two giant African snails found in the van were returned to the Moroccan, as the species is not considered protected. Animal trafficking is the fourth most lucrative and recurrent in the region.