TORRANCE, Calif. — From a baby tiger cub to monitor lizards and a macaw, authorities have seized dozens of animals and filed charges against 16 people as part of what they say is the largest wildlife trafficking sweep in Southern California. Federal authorities call the sweep “Operation Jungle Book” and say it’s an effort to combat a growing illegal market for exotic animals that threatens the survival of species. “An insatiable desire to own examples — both living and dead — of these vulnerable creatures is fueling this black market,” Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Brown said in a statement. Among the animals seized are king cobras, turtles, fish and a Bengal tiger cub that a California man said he bought on the streets of Tijuana, Mexico, for $300. “Wildlife trafficking does not stop at international borders, and it is our duty to protect imperiled species both at home and abroad,” said Ed Grace, acting chief of law enforcement for the U.S.

Source: National Post October 20, 2017 16:41 UTC