Mistreatment of animals, breach of trust… This shelter near Toulouse in the eye of the storm

Thunderclap around the famous Bessières turtle refuge (Haute-Garonne), near Toulouse. Tuesday April 23, 2024, a legal operation was triggered there, under the authority of the public prosecutor of Toulouse. Around sixty investigators intervened on site*.

Shelter director in custody

This operation is part of a ” Preliminary investigation in progress for several months following reports concerning illegal practices organized by the management of this refuge (irregular conditions of conservation and accommodation of protected animals, release into the wild of specimens, invasive species, etc.)”, explains the public prosecutor of Toulouse, Samuel Vuelta-Simon.

Three people, including shelter directorwere placed in jail, and searches were carried out. The National Veterinary School of Toulouse (ENVT) provided assistance to the services jointly responsible for the investigation to inventory, classify, identify and examine turtle specimens.

Illicit sale of protected species by organized gangs

Still according to the prosecutor, the investigations also relate to “ suspicion of embezzlement to the detriment of the refuge”, and endeavor to verify whether the storage conditions of certain animals carrying a parasite favored its possible transmission to other specimens.

The facts on which the investigations relate constitute the offenses of destruction, transport, placing illicit sale of protected species by organized gangsattack on the conservation of protected species in organized groups, introduction of invasive exotic animal species in the natural environment, propagation of a epizootic, bad treatment to animals, and breach of trust.

Facts punishable by 7 years in prison

These facts are punishable by 7 years of imprisonment and a fine of 750,000 euros. The police custody of the persons concerned has been extended and the hearings are continuing. The defendants will be presented on Thursday April 25, 2024 at the Toulouse judicial court, with a view to indictment as part of the opening of a judicial investigation.

*_{Belonging to the Central Office for the Fight against Attacks on the Environment and Public Health (OCLAESP), the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), the Departmental Directorate for Population Protection (DDPP) and the Regional Directorate of the Environment, Development and Housing (DREAL), supported by the Haute-Garonne Departmental Gendarmerie Group (GGD 31).}

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