Massive cache of stuffed animals in Spain includes extinct species

Police in Spain have seized one of the largest discoveries of taxidermy animals in Europe as they investigate potential smuggling after a giant warehouse was found to contain stuffed animals including rhinos, polar bears and elephants.

The Guardia Civil discovered over 1,000 specimens in a 50,000-square-meter industrial warehouse in Valencia, it revealed yesterday.

The haul included more than 400 protected species, including some that have become extinct such as the scimitar oryx or severely threatened such as the Bengal tiger. Others included lions, leopards, cheetahs and lynx.

The warehouse owner is under investigation for smuggling and crimes against flora and fauna, police said. But he had not been arrested by yesterday.

Investigators estimate the stuffed animals are worth 29 million euros (HK$247.2 million). The discovery was the culmination of an investigation carried out by Valencia police's Nature Protection Team.

The probe began in November 2021 when agents became aware of a possible private collection in the Betera district.