The Guardia Civil has confiscated two Eurasian eagle-owls (Bubo bubo) in Costa Teguise, Lanzarote, and filed a complaint against their 43-year-old owner for keeping the protected birds in her bedroom.
The woman had been displaying the owls in public, allowing tourists and residents to take photos with them, however, the two exotic birds are not registered in the official Zoological Nuclei Registry, which is a violation of animal welfare laws.
According to a statement released by the Guardia Civil yesterday, Saturday, one of the owls was acquired after the enforcement of the law prohibiting their purchase, and the owner lacked the proper facilities to care for the birds, which are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement that came into effect in 1975.
Officers seized the owls at Las Cucharas Beach promenade in Teguise, assisted by vets from Haría. The birds were taken to "Rancho Texas," a wildlife facility, and are now under the authority of local government officials pending an administrative resolution.
The case has been referred to the Canarian Government’s Livestock Department, as well as the municipalities of Teguise and Haría, for further action.
