nick
September 27th, 2009, 06:56 AM
Police have discovered 1,700 live animals crammed into the boot of a hatchback car in Bari, Italy, during a routine check.
The animals included 216 budgies, 300 white mice, 150 hamsters, 30 Japanese squirrels, six cameleons and more than 1,000 terrapins.
Traffic Police made the discovery when they pulled the vehicle over for a routine car check. The officers were amazed to find the animals in stacked boxes when driver Francesco Lombardo opened the boot.
All 1,700 animals were confiscated and sent to nearby zoos while Police investigate the driver for links to animal smuggling.
One of the officers who found the animals said: "He said he planned to sell the terrapins for 20 Euros each which would have made him a fortune. "There is no doubt those poor animals were suffering in such a small space."
Source here (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6230629/Police-find-1700-animals-in-car.html)
The animals included 216 budgies, 300 white mice, 150 hamsters, 30 Japanese squirrels, six cameleons and more than 1,000 terrapins.
Traffic Police made the discovery when they pulled the vehicle over for a routine car check. The officers were amazed to find the animals in stacked boxes when driver Francesco Lombardo opened the boot.
All 1,700 animals were confiscated and sent to nearby zoos while Police investigate the driver for links to animal smuggling.
One of the officers who found the animals said: "He said he planned to sell the terrapins for 20 Euros each which would have made him a fortune. "There is no doubt those poor animals were suffering in such a small space."
Source here (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6230629/Police-find-1700-animals-in-car.html)