UAE | General
Wild cats moved from flat to farm in northern emirates
The five lions and one cheetah found in a residential flat last week have since been moved to a private collection on a farm in the northern emirates, according to the tenant of the flat they were found in.
- By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 August 13, 2006
- Image Credit: Ranjaragan/Gulf News
- Five lions and a cheetah were found kept in a residential flat last week. The tenant of the flat said he had proper permits for the wild cats and that the owner is a resident with a private animal collection.
Dubai: The five lions and one cheetah found in a residential flat last week have since been moved to a private collection on a farm in the northern emirates, according to the tenant of the flat they were found in.
The tenant, Saeed Ahmad (name changed to protect identity) said he had proper permits for the wild cats and that the owner is a resident with a private animal collection. Gulf News was shown part of the permits. However, it remains unclear which lions the permit refers to.
The representative from the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Abu Dhabi has not yet been able to confirm how many wild cats such as cheetahs and lions are annually brought into the UAE legally or illegally.
According to Ahmad, the animals had been brought in from Africa and Oman. "Lions, cheetahs, panthers or hyenas it takes a week or 10 days ... you can have anything you want for a price, snakes, monkeys or crocodiles. There are always ways to bring them in by sea, by boat by whatever."
He said ships coming from Somalia, Sudan, and other African countries often have animals on them hidden from the authorities. "Sometimes they bring monkeys but half are dead when they arrive," he said.
The term "endangered" is somewhat alien to traders who confuse it with meaning that animals are dangerous, and not "in danger" of becoming extinct.
Related Links
More from UAE General
More from UAE
Latest news
- Tracks to be laid on recycled material
- Golden Hour crucial to a patient's survival
- Opening show worthy of UAE
- Sun is shining on prospects for solar power
- Artists focus on craftsmanship
- World leaders committed to supporting civilians
- Schools open a new page in teaching English
- Special parking to help disabled tourists
- Helping hand surgeons have long sought
- Blind woman lights up corridors of power
- In Mind
- At times, I think of committing suicide
- Designer of a creative haven
- Fund to help Dubai taxi drivers' families
- New life-saving fleet of vehicles
Community Reports
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
-
Supporting the needy with food supplies
Group of families engaged in serving isolated labour community hopes to motivate more people to help underprivileged and hungry
-
Leukaemia boy granted wish to meet footballer
Emirati meets hero Al Qahtani, Al Ain team
