More than a dozen dangerous and endangered animals have been seized in Sharjah this year.
Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority said it had captured 16 animals – including a wolf, large lizards, an oryx and a Doberman dog – being owned and traded illegally in the emirate in the first quarter of 2020.
Officials carried out a series of inspections to clamp down on traffickers.
“The inspection campaigns carried out by the external inspection department were undertaken with the objective of safeguarding endangered species and seizing dangerous and predatory animals that are acquired and trafficked without permission,” said Hana Al Suwaidi, chairwoman of the authority.
“Ownership of and trading in these animals and birds is banned under the Federal Law 22 of 2016,” Ms Al Suwaidi said.
The law sets out a penalty of Dh100,000 for owning dangerous or predatory animals in homes or farms in the emirate, without prior approval.
The punishment for transporting dangerous or predatory animals from one place to another, inside or outside Sharjah, without approval from the authority is a Dh10,000 fine.
“The Environment and Protected Areas Authority seeks to protect the environment, natural reserves, wildlife and biological diversity by conducting scientific studies and research and implementing measures for pollution control,” Ms Al Suwaidi said.
In 2019, 379 prohibited animals were seized in Sharjah, up from 142 in the year previous but a decline from the 422 rescued in 2017.