Saudi environmental police and wildlife protection officials have caught two expatriates and a citizen for owning and displaying endangered animals in the Eastern Province.
Details of the Arrests
The three individuals, including an Egyptian man and an Indian national, are accused of violating the kingdom's environmental law and rules on protecting wildlife creatures.
Seizure and Hand-over of Animals
The seized animals were handed over to the National Centre for Wildlife (NCW), according to the Special Forces for Environmental Security (SFES), which did not specify the types of animals involved.
Penalties for Displaying Endangered Animals
Displaying endangered animals in the kingdom is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years and a maximum fine of SR30 million, or both penalties, according to SFES.
Previous Enforcement Actions
Saudi Arabia has banned dealing in endangered animals in any manner, including keeping and putting them on show. SFES, in collaboration with NCW, recently uncovered illegal attempts to own and display wildlife creatures.
In July, environmental police reported a raid on an illegal location in H'ail, where a Pakistani national had kept wild animals. A total of 32 animals and birds, including endangered species like a lion, gazelles, ostriches, and eagles, were seized.
Recent months have seen several incidents involving fierce animals. In May of last year, Saudi environmental police restrained a lion found on the loose in Riyadh, which was then handed over to a specialist agency. Additionally, a raid in the Asir region uncovered an establishment illegally keeping and displaying beasts including a lion and a tiger.
Legal Warnings on Predator Ownership
In 2021, Saudi authorities warned against the illegal rearing of predators following an incident where a lion mauled its keeper to death in Riyadh. The illegal purchase of wild animals is believed to have increased due to social media marketing.
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