Lorraine Williamson
A chance discovery has exposed one of Spain’s most shocking cases of wildlife trafficking. The Guardia Civil has dismantled an illegal private zoo in Nules, Castellón, where more than 150 exotic animals — including dozens of endangered species — were being kept and traded.
The investigation began when officers spotted an online advert offering unusual animals for sale. What seemed at first like a single illicit trade quickly escalated into something much larger. When the Guardia Civil arrived in Nules, they uncovered warehouses and plots filled with cages, each containing rare and protected creatures.
Exotic collection hidden away
Among the animals found were zebras, dromedaries, Asian otters, kinkajous, meerkats, and kangaroos. Officers identified 56 different species, with at least 50 listed as endangered under international law. Even Balinese starlings — a bird almost extinct in the wild — were kept alongside servals and other highly protected species.
The collection was estimated to have a combined value exceeding €2 million. On average, each animal could sell for around €70,000 on the black market. Some of the birds discovered, including macaws, were traced back to thefts reported in Almería.
Two men under investigation
The Guardia Civil’s environmental unit, Seprona, led the operation with support from Spain’s Ministry of Ecological Transition. Two men, aged 30 and 35, are now under judicial investigation in Nules, facing charges of wildlife trafficking, smuggling, and crimes against protected fauna.
Threat to global biodiversity
Moreover, beyond the financial value, authorities stressed the ecological damage caused by such operations. Species already on the brink of extinction were being treated as commodities. Conservation experts warn that illegal zoos and private collections undermine decades of work to protect biodiversity, while fuelling international trafficking networks.
Exotic animals rescued from home in Monistrol de Montserrat
Why this matters
This case highlights the growing challenge of wildlife crime in Spain, often driven by demand for exotic pets and collectors. With climate change already straining fragile ecosystems, the removal of endangered animals from their habitats for profit pushes some species even closer to extinction. The Guardia Civil has vowed to continue cracking down on such crimes to safeguard biodiversity.
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