SSUENN 1555 //10 23 29 APRIL 2015 - 16-November 2016 IISSUE OO . .1636
COSTA DE ALMERÍA
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Panther found at illegal zoo By Eleanor Hawkins A man from Arboleas has been arrested for illegally possessing exotic and endangered animals after police officers found he was keeping a private zoo which included a black panther. Officers from Seprona, the Guardia Civil’s nature protection branch, found a variety of exotic birds and small mammals of unknown origin during an initial visit to the man’s premises. They then called in the Soivre export and import surveillance and regulation service for assistance. A further two inspections by members of both teams revealed that paperwork for the animals presented by the owner was of dubious authenticity and many of the rings on the birds were found not to match up with their documents. During the second visit officers became aware that the man owned another building nearby where animals might be hidden and although at first he denied this he eventually gave in and led officers inside. The building turned out to be housing a number of exotic animals for which the owner was unable to provide legal CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora) documentation. Officers also found a locked room within the building which, once opened, was found to contain a cage with a large black cat inside. Further inspection revealed it to be a black panther (Panthera Pardus) which has now, due
to its dangerous nature, been taken to a zoo in Alicante Province. Four offences against the animals’ owner for smuggling in relation to C ITES ha ve be e n lodge d w ith the Almeria Customs and Special Taxes Authority.
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Chilean visitors THIRTY-FIVE people from Chile have been visiting Almeria to discover more about local agriculture with an aim to employing similar methods in the South American country. Simi-
larities in climate have sparked interest in the government of the country, which decided to send investigators to Spain for tips. See page 5
Keeping safe MAYOR of Almeria City Ramon Fernandez-Pacheco has been trying to raise awareness amongst drivers and pedestrians in a bid to reduce road traf-
fic deaths. His message was given at a road-safety event held in the city as part of the Ponle Freno campaign See page 8
Tourism fair ALMERIA has been pushing its attractions in London at the World Travel Market, one of the largest tourism fairs in the World. Representatives of the Costa de Almeria destination took up their posts at the Excel Centre at a fair which attracts professionals from all over See page 12 the world.
Tied to a chair POLICE officers have taken statements from the parents of a boy with Down Syndrome who was allegedly tied to a chair by monitors at summer school. The seven-year-old boy’s stepfather twice found him bound See page 21 up and was told it was to correct his behaviour.
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