The Civil Guard is investigating a 62-year-old man for an alleged crime against wildlife protection after locating four Mediterranean tortoises in a home in Alella. Agents from the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) intervened on April 29 to secure the specimens, which lacked legal documentation.
A complaint for mistreatment of dogs uncovers illegal possession
The operation began weeks earlier, on April 21, when the Premià de Mar officers received a citizen's notice. The alert indicated the presence of dogs in poor condition inside the home, but the initial inspection dismissed this part of the complaint upon finding the animals in good sanitary and physical condition.
During that same visit, however, the civil guards detected the presence of four Mediterranean tortoises (Testudo hermanni). The owner could not prove the legal origin of the reptiles nor present the mandatory documentation required by current regulations for their possession.
The investigated person justified the possession of the animals explaining that another person handed them over to him two years ago. According to his version, the objective was to prevent them from being released into the wild, a common practice that puts the genetics of wild populations at risk.
The specimens enter the Torreferrussa center
The Mediterranean tortoise is a native species of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands listed as endangered in Spain. Its trade and possession are strictly regulated by the CITES convention and European legislation due to the fragility of its natural populations.
"The four specimens were transferred to the Torreferrussa Wildlife Recovery Center" - SEPRONA of the Civil Guard
The technicians of this facility, located in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, took custody of the animals to provide them with the necessary specialized care. The duty court of Mataró is now investigating the proceedings against the owner for the alleged environmental offense.