Man caught with 300 tortoises and 77 parrots bound for Malta at Sicilian port
Reported by the Guardian · October 5, 2026
Police in Sicily stopped a Maltese citizen suspected of taking hundreds of animals to Malta. Officers said the car lacked sufficient space and temperature control for the animals.
Veterinary checks determined that 76 parrots were from species protected by the Washington convention, an international agreement regulating trade in threatened wildlife. Police described the seizure as among the convention’s most significant.
The man faces allegations of keeping animals in unsuitable conditions and causing severe suffering. He is also accused of violating rules on international trade in protected species.
Key points
- The seized animals included 300 tortoises and 77 parrots.
- Veterinarians identified 76 parrots as belonging to protected species.
- The Maltese man faces animal welfare and protected-wildlife trade allegations.