McQueen’s stuffed tiger seized by wildlife police
British police have seized a stuffed adult tiger once used in a fashion shoot by the late designer Alexander McQueen in a raid on a central London studio.
Officers from the Wildlife Crime Unit believe the animal was touted for illegal sale, according to a statement issued by the Metropolitan Police. A 47-year-old man was arrested and taken to a south London police station for questioning, the statement said.
Although it is possible for stuffed tigers to be sold in the UK, police believe the animal was made available for sale through the studio without sufficient documentation to verify its origin, contravening rules imposed by the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
Detective Sergeant Ian Knox of the WCU, said: “In order to discourage the trade in rare animals and related items, it is crucial that regulations surrounding their sale are strictly enforced.
“Where an item is suspected of breaching the CITES regulations designed to protect our planet’s most endangered flora and fauna, we will take the appropriate action to establish its origin and, when necessary, seize it as evidence.”
The operation took place as part of Operation Charm – the only ongoing police initiative against the illegal trade in endangered species in the UK.
Since the launch of Operation Charm in 1995, the WCU has seized more than 30,000 endangered species products from illegal sale in London including traditional Chinese medicines, elephant ivory, animal skins and fashion items.
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