Pictures: 13 rare iguanas seized by Border Force at Heathrow
A shocking find for Border Force officers working at Heathrow yesterday, as they seized thirteen endangered iguanas at the airport's Terminal 5.
Astonishingly, 12 survived their journey, although one sadly didn't make it.
The scaly baker’s dozen were discovered inside an item of luggage by officers carrying out customs checks. When found, each was wrapped in an individual sock.
Two Romanian women aged 24 and 26 were arrested on suspicion of importation offences. They’d arrived on a flight from the Bahamas and were due to fly onto Dusseldorf.
Grant Miller, head of the Border Force CITES team, said:
This particular species of iguana is incredibly rare – only a few hundred are believed to be left in existence – so this was a remarkable and very important seizure.
Given the circumstances we found them in it seems incredible that all but one survived such a long flight.
The surviving animals were dehydrated and are now under the supervision of a specialist vet. We are also working with experts to find the best way to protect and safeguard these endangered creatures longer term.