Customs stop: 1,500 dead tarantulas discovered in biscuit package from Vietnam!

Customs stop: 1,500 dead tarantulas discovered in biscuit package from Vietnam!

About three weeks ago there was a scandalous incident at Cologne/Bonn Airport that once again brought the dark side of the illegal animal trade into the spotlight. Customs officials discovered a package from Vietnam containing around 1,500 young tarantulas that were being transported under extremely questionable conditions. The smell of the package was noticeable and didn't match what you would expect from cookies. Many of the spiders were already dead, which indicates transport conditions that were unwelcome to animal welfare. The surviving animals were immediately handed over to expert care, while criminal proceedings were initiated against the recipient in Sauerland.

The incident reflects an urgent problem: the illegal trade in animals remains a major animal welfare problem in Germany. According to the German Animal Welfare Association, there were at least 731 cases in 2023 in which animals, especially dogs, were transported illegally. Over 1,400 such cases involving nearly 21,000 smuggled animals have been documented in the last decade. However, the number of unreported cases is high, which makes the situation all the more alarming. These illegal activities not only burden the animals themselves, but also the animal shelters, which have to bear high costs for their care, on average around 25 euros per day.

The illegal animal trade: a growing problem

The number of unreported cases suggests that the problem is much larger than the known number of cases suggests. In most cases, the illegally smuggled animals, often including puppies, come from Eastern European countries such as Romania. These animals are often separated from their mother far too early and grow up in conditions that violate animal welfare, which puts their health at considerable risk. 629 of the 731 illegally transported animals were dogs, often pedigree dogs such as Maltese and French bulldogs, but cats and exotic animals such as alpacas were also found in the balance sheets.

In order to reduce the effects of illegal animal trade, the German Animal Welfare Association is calling for urgent improvements to the Animal Protection Act. A central point is the legal regulation of online trading in animals. So far, the draft law does not provide for sufficient proof of identity for sellers, and the obligation to identify dogs and cats is considered necessary.

Legal basis and animal exchanges

The Animal Protection Act, which has been in force in Germany since 1972, highlights an additional aspect. In particular, paragraph 12, which deals with animal exchanges, aims to ensure the welfare of animals and comply with animal welfare standards. In Germany, up to 150,000 animals are traded on illegal animal exchanges every year, which further underlines the urgency of regulation. The regulations stipulate that animal exchanges may only take place under certain conditions and official approval. Although there is occasional criticism of the ban, it is clear that many animal welfare violations at these markets can lead to stress and illness in animals.

Creating clear rules and a comprehensive monitoring system are crucial to ensure animals live without unnecessary suffering. Violations can be punished with heavy fines and even imprisonment. Experts emphasize that stronger controls and more education are necessary to stop illegal activities and find effective solutions for the future.

The most recent incident at Cologne/Bonn Airport shows once again that there is a significant need for action in the area of ​​animal trafficking. Only through targeted measures can we prevent such animal welfare behavior from continuing to go unpunished.