Italian authorities have seized a large cache of exotic animals, including 77 parrots and 300 tortoises, from a car at the Sicilian port of Pozzallo. The animals were being transported by a Maltese man who is now facing multiple charges related to animal cruelty and illegal wildlife trafficking.

The incident occurred near the boarding area for a catamaran bound for Malta, where officers from the local financial police unit intercepted the vehicle during a routine inspection. Officials noted that the car was overcrowded and lacked adequate space and temperature control for the animals. Veterinary assessments revealed that 76 of the parrots were species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement established in 1973 to prevent the exploitation of endangered plants and animals. Authorities described the seizure as one of the most significant cases of its kind under CITES regulations in recent memory.

Following the confiscation, the animals were transferred to a specialized breeding facility for care and rehabilitation. The Maltese national is accused of subjecting the animals to conditions incompatible with their natural needs, resulting in severe suffering, and of violating laws governing the international trade of protected species.

This discovery follows a related case in Italy last month, when police found the dried head of a critically endangered crocodile in the luggage of an Italian traveler arriving from Miami via Istanbul at Caselle Airport in Turin. The man involved was placed under investigation for smuggling protected wildlife.

Italy remains a key transit point for the illicit trade of exotic animals, much of which is tied to organized crime networks. A recent report from the Italian branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) highlighted the ongoing illegal trafficking of tortoises, tropical reptiles, ornamental birds, and small primates via online platforms and cross-border exchanges. The report also noted a separate incident last year involving the seizure of a chimpanzee kept illegally in Sicily.

Authorities continue to strengthen efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species from exploitation across the region.