Wild animal husbandry in court: Gendarmerie uncovers Ouistiti black market!

Wild animal husbandry in court: Gendarmerie uncovers Ouistiti black market!

In recent months, the illegal trade in protected animals in France has once again attracted the attention of the public and authorities. These machinations are not only time-consuming for investigators, but also pose massive risks for wildlife and animal welfare. A shocking example of this issue is the upcoming trial of a Le Havre couple who owned an illegal Ouistiti. The Seine-Maritime Gendarmerie discovered the protected animal in February 2024, the result of a months-long investigation by the French Biodiversity Office. The couple will go to trial on June 25, 2025 for violating strict regulations mandatory for the ownership of such undomesticated animals, according to an ordinance dated October 8, 2018. Without the necessary permits, such behavior is simply illegal, which could cost the couple dearly. The possible penalties amount to a fine of up to 150,000 euros and three years in prison

.

But that's not the only incident that's made headlines recently. Another case concerns a 32-year-old man from Beauzelle, who was discovered on January 20th with several illegally kept animals, including five suricates and a white-haired tufted lemur. This person had previously violated the protection of protected species. He has now been sentenced to eight months in prison and a fine of 3,800 euros. The investigation was carried out by a wide range of authorities, including environmental authorities and gendarmes. This case also shows the high level of brutality and the profit-oriented business that lies behind the illegal animal trade

.

The dark side of the animal trade

What makes this illegal animal trade so attractive? In fact, it is extremely profitable, especially in Africa, where law enforcement is often more lax. The animal protection organization Stéphane Lamart, which is a co-plaintiff in this case, not only criticizes the normalization of keeping wild animals, but also emphasizes that such animals require special care that their owners often neglect. “We must consistently implement the laws to protect biodiversity,” demands the organization’s lawyer, Maître Patrice Grillon. The laws have become stricter in recent years, but it remains to be hoped that this will actually have an impact on the number of cases

.

The German Animal Welfare Association also points out that the illegal trade in pets will remain at a high level in 2023. More than 731 animals, mostly dogs, were affected in 221 cases. On average, such a case is discovered in Germany every three days, which underlines the urgency of a rethink in legislation. Most smuggled animals come from Eastern European countries and are often raised in conditions that violate animal welfare. Animal shelters that are overloaded with these confiscated animals have to bear high costs, which reinforces the call for a better legal framework

.

This shows that the problem of illegal animal trade has not only a local but also a global dimension. The laws must be tightened and controls intensified to finally put a stop to this illegal and cruel business. Only if the public and the authorities work together to combat these grievances can a change in thinking take place that benefits both the animals and the animal rights activists.