Authorities recovered both the margay and jaguar and released images of cubs.

A couple in Texas has been arrested after allegedly selling a margay cub and attempting to sell a jaguar cub in the first case charged under the Big Cat Public Safety Act, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.

Rafael Gutierrez-Galvan, 29, and his wife, Deyanira Garza, 28, both of Alamo, appeared in federal court in McAllen on Wednesday, the Justice Department said in a news release.

According to the criminal complaint, Gutierrez-Galvan sold a margay cub last month for $7,500 in a parking lot of a sporting goods store.

  • HBK@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    71·
    1 year ago

    The Big Cat Public Safety Act was enacted last December and bans the importation, sale and possession of prohibited wildlife species, such as tigers, jaguars and leopards. Jaguars are also listed as an endangered and are therefore protected under the 50-year-old Endangered Species Act.

    Thank you Tiger King?

      • ZzyzxRoad
        6·
        1 year ago

        Exactly. I never understood how everyone got on board with hating her so quickly and easily. She runs the wildlife rescue and had been fighting for a law like this for years. But everyone just believed the clown car of tiger king people when they would talk shit about her. Of course they hated her. She was trying to stop them from abusing animals for profit.

        • GentlemanLoser@ttrpg.network
          4·
          1 year ago

          Yup. IDK if she’s a “good person”, but I do know she spearheaded the legislation that basically put herself out of business. I’ve been to her rescue several times and it’s legitimately about what’s best for the cats there.