Mexico’s federal environmental watchdog, known as Profepa (the Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection), has seized 75 tarantulas and 20 turtles that were being illegally transported aboard a passenger bus originating in the northern state of Chihuahua.
The animals were reportedly being smuggled as part of Mexico’s ongoing illegal wildlife trade, a black market that supplies exotic pets both domestically and abroad. Tarantulas and turtles are frequently targeted by traffickers because of their popularity as unusual pets, even though many species are protected under Mexican law due to concerns about declining wild populations.
Profepa, which operates similarly to a combined wildlife and environmental enforcement agency in the US, regularly conducts inspections at bus terminals, highways, and airports to intercept protected species being moved across the country without proper permits. Wildlife trafficking remains a persistent problem in Mexico, one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, where smugglers exploit extensive road networks to move animals long distances with relatively low risk of detection.
Authorities have not yet detailed the final destination of the seized creatures, their exact species, or whether any suspects were detained in connection with the shipment. The animals are expected to undergo veterinary evaluation before likely being returned to their natural habitats or placed in specialized wildlife management facilities.
For the full story and more details, read the original report at informador.mx.
Source: Profepa asegura 75 tarántulas y 20 tortugas traficadas en un autobús de Chihuahua (informador.mx).
Image: Grand Canyon NPS, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).