In Nola, an intervention by the CITES Carabinieri revealed a serious case of exotic animal abuse in a private residence, leading to the seizure of invasive parrots and tortoises; the owner was reported to the competent authorities.
Nola - A targeted intervention by the Carabinieri CITES Unit of Naples and the Carabinieri Unit of Marigliano, supported by LIPU volunteers, led to the discovery of a veritable concentration of wild and exotic fauna illegally held in a private home in the countryside of the Municipality of Nola.
Arriving on site following a report, the Carabinieri found numerous animals in the courtyard of the house: dogs and cats, collared doves, several psittacines—some of which are protected by the Washington Convention on the Protection of Animals (CITES)—and numerous specimens of Trachemys scripta, an aquatic turtle listed as an invasive species in Europe.
The checks revealed the lack of any documentation justifying the possession of four collared doves, a protected and non-huntable species under Law 157/92, and a parrot belonging to the Ara ararauna species, protected by CITES regulations.
The situation appeared even more dire inside the home: two additional blue and gold macaws were found in one room, also without certification, held in conditions described as precarious. The parrots were living amidst feces and food residue accumulated over time, exhibiting severe feather loss, and, in one case, severe necrosis on a wing, as confirmed by the local health authority veterinarians who responded to the scene.
The animals were immediately transferred to a specialized veterinary clinic, where the doctor certified the serious state of mistreatment and the need to proceed, urgently, with the amputation of the necrotic wing.
In light of the violations found, the Carabinieri proceeded with the criminal seizure of three blue and gold macaws and four collared doves, as well as the administrative seizure of 14 black-backed turtles, detained without the required notification to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, as required by Legislative Decree 230/2017. For this latter violation, an administrative fine of €2.000 was imposed.
The owner of the home, a 58-year-old resident of Nola, has been reported to the competent judicial authority.
Summary of seizures:
3 specimens of Ara ararauna (criminal seizure);
4 specimens of Collared Dove (criminal seizure);
14 specimens of Trachemys scripta (administrative seizure);
Administrative fine: €2.000.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
I read the article and was shocked by the animal abuse situation in Nola. It's incredible how people keep exotic animals without documents and in such appalling conditions. The law needs to be stricter.