Live animals, horns and ivory seized in global wildlife trafficking operation

Interpol and the World Customs Organisation’s annual crackdown on wildlife and timber trafficking this year covered 133 countries (Interpol/AP)

Interpol and the World Customs Organisation said on Tuesday that they seized 53 primates, four big cats and more than 1,300 birds, as well as some 300kg (660lb) of ivory, thousands of turtle eggs, and rhino horns, leopard skins, and lions’ teeth and paws in their sweeping annual crackdown on wildlife and timber trafficking which this year covered 133 countries.

Interpol said it co-ordinated around 500 arrests worldwide from October 2 to 27 and more than 2,000 confiscations of animals and plants were made.