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Guns, a monkey, and exotic birds seized in Quarteira GNR sting

49monkey stingAn illegally trafficked monkey, three exotic birds and illegal weapons were seized in Quarteira by the GNR this week. Two men, father and son, were taken into custody.

The operation was triggered this Wednesday by the Quarteira Territorial Sub-Detachment of the GNR as part of an investigation related to the possible possession of exotic animals. “The personnel conducted a house search of the suspects’ home where they detected birds, a monkey and prohibited weapons”, reveals the GNR in a statement.

The searches resulted in the apprehension of the animals and also an illegal firearm, with ammunition, and a can of pepper spray. The monkey, of the Rhesus macaque species, was collected by the Environmental Protection Division of the Territorial Detachment of Loulé and handed over to Lagos Zoo, as it is a species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Species of Fauna and Wild Flora. The birds identified in this operation are a Harris Hawk, a Barn Owl, and a Eurasian eagle-owl.

According to the GNR, “they were taken care of by the owner, due to the fact that due diligence was taking place to care for them, but the situation was reported to the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests”. Father and son, aged 22 and 49, are currently being held by authorities and will be tried at the Judicial Court of Loulé.