Fox cubs are to be sold - animal rights activists uncover illegal trade
Created: 05/20/2022, 08:30
By: Nina Marie Jarosch
Two tiny fox cubs are said to be sold on Ebay for 5,000 euros.
Animal rights activists in Berlin uncover the secret trade in wild animals.
Berlin – The illegal trade in wild animals is booming.
According to the “Deutscher Tierschutzbund eV”, Germany is the largest importer and sales market for live wild animals in the EU.
The baby animals are often separated from their mothers far too early for this and are usually in very poor health.
Animal rights activists in Berlin have now uncovered the secret trade in two tiny polar red fox puppies – they were to be sold on Ebay for 5,000.
Fox cubs are to be sold - animal rights activists uncover illegal trade
During his research, Berlin animal rescuer and activist Stefan Klippstein discovered an advertisement for the purchase of two fox cubs.
They are just six weeks old, malnourished and are being offered on Ebay.
He contacts the dealer.
Across from “Bild”, Klippstein reports that the woman in the chat describes the animals as “domesticated”, i.e. tame, and “like dogs in character”.
The animal rescuer pretends to accept the offer and informs the police about the deal.
Another fox cub is looking for help from a Munich family because he is very hungry.
Saved thanks to animal rights activists: Two fox puppies are to be sold on Ebay for 5,000 euros.
(Iconic image) © Holger Hollemann/dpa
Fox cubs are to be sold - decoy meets with trader
On Tuesday evening, a decoy in Berlin-Wedding meets the dealer who has the fox cubs in a cage in the trunk of her car.
But before the two frightened animals can be handed over, the police intervene.
The officials confiscate the little foxes and take them to safety.
The dealer claims to have bought the baby animals from a breeder in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
An investigation is now being initiated against the dealer for violating the Animal Welfare Act.
The two polar red fox puppies are now being nursed up in a veterinary clinic.
With the "Adopt instead of Produce" campaign, Martin Rütter is campaigning against the illegal puppy trade.
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Fox cubs to be sold - wild animals are not pets
According to Klippstein, however, fox puppies are often bought cheaply in Poland or the Czech Republic and then resold in Germany for a multiple.
Not only is the trade in foxes illegal in this country, keeping them is also prohibited and punishable with fines of up to 5,000 euros.
The illegal trade in wild animals is still booming, especially online.
"There's a big market for it.
The attitude of foxes as supposed pets is fueled by social media," said Klippstein to "Bild".
But the fox feels most comfortable in nature.
And that's exactly where it belongs, not in an apartment!
