Civil Guard Discovers 229 Protected Turtles, Spain's Largest Seizure
The Valencia Civil Guard has carried out a notable operation that ended with the seizure of 229 Moorish tortoise specimens on a farm located in Picassent. This event, representing the largest confiscation of this species in Spain, has attracted significant interest both nationally and internationally.
Investigation and Coordinated Action
During April, the Nature Protection Service (Seprona) received information that led them to suspect the presence of a large number of protected land turtles on a specific farm. After a thorough investigation, a search was conducted on the property, revealing the alarming number of 229 Moorish tortoise specimens.
Legal Protection of the Moorish Tortoise
It is worth noting that the Greek tortoisescientifically known as Testudo Graecais protected by various national and international regulations. These include the CITES Convention (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and the Spanish Catalogue of Endangered Species (Lespre), which aim to protect and conserve endangered species.
The lack of documentation justifying the origin and legal possession of these specimens constituted a clear violation of animal protection laws. Consequently, the animals were confiscated and transferred to the El Saler Wildlife Recovery Center in Valencia, where they will receive the necessary care for their well-being.
The operation not only involved the seizure of the turtles but also initiated a criminal investigation against a 50-year-old Spanish man. He faces charges for an alleged crime against flora and fauna, highlighting the seriousness of the situation and the authorities' commitment to combating illegal trafficking of protected species.
It is important to emphasize the collaboration between the Civil Guard, the Ministry of Environment, Water, Infrastructure and Territory of the Generalitat, and the judicial authorities, which allowed this operation to be carried out effectively. Thanks to these coordinated actions, these Moorish tortoise specimens were prevented from falling into the hands of illegal traffickers, demonstrating the authorities' firm commitment to biodiversity protection.
Legal and Judicial Steps
The corresponding proceedings have been handed over to the Environmental Prosecutor's Office of the High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community, where it is expected that necessary measures will be taken to ensure those responsible are held accountable for their actions.
The recent seizure of 229 Moorish tortoises by the Valencia Civil Guard is a clear example of the authorities' commitment to wildlife protection and the fight against illegal trafficking of protected species. This case reinforces the importance of international cooperation in biodiversity conservation and sends a clear message that those who break the law in this regard will be brought to justice.
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JAVIER says: I am the owner of those turtles that have been with me for more than 32 years, and the only offense is not having the documentation since I was never allowed to legalize them. The news, like everything in Spain, is sensationalist and also completely false. My intention has always been to legalize them, and I have never sold a single specimen, as they are all offspring of a pair given to me over 32 years ago. Thanks to my care and dedication, I managed to have this many specimens, which enjoyed special facilities, and I even grew their own food. But after a complaint from someone, the SEPRONA came, and since my intention was to get help to legalize the turtle sanctuary, I invited them in. They took two specimens for identification and told me they would return to make a record of all the turtles I had, intending to help me legalize everything. But to my surprise, they didn’t do that; instead, seven officers and three people from the Saler Protection Center showed up with the sole intention of taking them all away, which they did, roughly and in dog carriers and even a cardboard box, piled up like stones, without caring about the animals' welfare. The boxes they used couldn’t hold more than 50 turtles, yet they put them all in. They destroyed the enclosure where I kept them, smoked and left cigarette butts on the ground, and to make matters worse, they left one specimen behind. When I saw this, I immediately called SEPRONA, and they told me I could keep that one. This made me very angry, and I forced them to come back for it (and I asked them to make a delivery report for this last one). Then they admitted that nowhere would they be as well as I kept them. (But that’s what I hold on to).
Today, July 29, after much investigation, I went to the Santa Faz recovery center in Alicante, where they are kept. Here, they did let me see them, unlike at the Saler center. I became sick seeing the conditions they are kept in. The first thing I saw, along with the center manager, was a large specimen dead on its back, and since I can recognize my animals, I know it was one of mine. The food they had was inadequate and left much to be desired. They don’t know how many have arrived, they have no control over them, and they don’t really care if they die or not. In the end, they are just a number to feed, and they cost money.
So, I have been caring for these animals for over 32 years without any profit, and now I find myself awaiting trial, desperate to see how they are letting the animals die and how there is no control over this. The ones who will pay the price are my turtles (but according to the law, I am the criminal).
If animals really matter, I hope this reaches wherever it needs to, and if I can’t get them back, at least they don’t die anymore.
I have sent many letters to various entities, organizations, and the press, and no one has bothered to respond. The only person who did was the Director General of the Environment, who told me he would investigate, but to this day, I have no response from him, and the animals are dying.
JAVIER 
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