This footage was filmed and produced 30 March 2024.

The Guardia Civil's Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) in Alicante Province has conducted numerous rescue operations over the past year, rescuing several protected animal species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Among the rescued animals are two Nile crocodiles, an African spurred tortoise weighing 25 kg, and a 2-meter-long Burmese python. These interventions were made possible through citizen reports and collaboration with state authorities.

In one operation, two Nile crocodiles, each approximately two meters long, were retrieved from a private estate in Alicante's El Moralet area. The animals were confiscated due to the owner's failure to provide the required importation or captive breeding certificates.

In separate incidents in October, a Patagonian conure and a Venezuelan red-faced parrot were rescued after citizens reported seeing them loose on public roads. Additionally, a Burmese python was discovered in urban Alicante, and an African spurred tortoise weighing 25 kilograms was abandoned in the Sierra de Olta, Calpe.

The rescued animals were transferred to various recovery centers, shelters, and animal parks equipped to handle their specific needs. Specialists will evaluate their health and provide appropriate treatment, food, space, and care for optimal welfare.

The Guardia Civil has initiated investigations to locate the owners responsible for these animals and may impose fines of up to €6,000 or pursue criminal charges under wildlife protection laws if they fail to provide legitimate documentation.

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