56 smuggled wild species seized, three suspects detained in Istanbul

ISTANBUL

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A total of 56 wild animals which were illegally smuggled into Turkey were seized during a police raid on a farm in Istanbul on April 10, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Police conducted the raid after they were informed about smuggled wild animals at a farm in Istanbul’s Çatalca district.

Police officers raided the farm and seized 56 animals, including six wild wolves, one hybrid Asian leopard, six wild ducks, four German shepherds, 28 various breeds of dogs, including Golden Retrievers, Jack Russel Terriers, Rottweilers and bulldogs, as well as eight canaries and goldfinches.

Police also detained three suspects who confessed to aiming to sell the animals. The animals were delivered to the 1st Regional Forestry Directorate.

Previously, 10 kittens that were seized after being illegally smuggled into the country from Bulgaria were auctioned on Oct. 20, 2016, in Edirne, Doğan News Agency reported.

Anti-smuggling units in Edirne seized the 10 Persian and British Shorthair hybrid kittens inside two bags in the trunk of a suspicious Bulgarian car after it entered the country through the Hamzabeyli Border Gate. The cats had been illegally smuggled into the country to be sold in pet shops.

The Edirne Liquidation Authority auctioned the kittens for 7,080 liras on Oct. 20, the agency said. A Turkish animal rights foundation, HAYTAP, also rescued six other kittens after buying them at an auction in Edirne.