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MEXICO: August 20, 2001 MEXICO CITY - Mexico said last week it seized hundreds of animal skins, some of them from endangered species, as well as two parrots and a lion cub in a series of raids around the tourist resort of Cancun. In raids around in the Caribbean state of Quintana Roo this week, government environmental agents impounded a live three-month-old lion cub, 138 snakeskin belts, a toucan, an ocelot and eight pounds (17.5 kg) of frozen deer, the environmental watchdog Profepa said. In one raid on a taxidermist, agents found the skins of two lions, 23 jaguars, 12 pumas, 62 crocodiles, 36 ocelots and five anteaters. A Profepa official said one man was arrested on suspicion of trafficking the animals and skins and that five others are under investigation. The skins, meat and animals appeared to have been destined for the domestic market in Mexico, he added. The raids began on Monday as part of "Operation Viper" to crack down on the illegal trade in animals and their skins. (Copyright Reuters Limited 2001) << Archives |