The Guardia Civil discovered more than 1,000 samples in a 50,000-square-foot (538,000-square-foot) industrial warehouse in Bétera, Valencia, on Wednesday, it said in a statement on Sunday. The retrieval included more than 400 protected species, including some that have become extinct in the wild, such as the skimmer tiger, or are seriously endangered, such as the Bengal tiger. Others included lions, leopards, cheetahs and lynx. The researchers estimate that the stuffed animals are worth almost 30 million euros (25 million pounds). Photo: Spanish Guardia Civil / AFP / Getty Images The owner of the warehouse was under investigation for smuggling and crimes against flora and fauna, police said. He has not been arrested. The researchers estimate that the stuffed animals are worth 29 million euros (,2 24.2 million). The discovery was the culmination of an investigation by the Valencian police nature conservation team that began in November 2021 when agents were informed of a possible private collection at the Bétera.
