Polish Man Arrested For Smuggling Tarantulas in Luggage
A Polish man who is “passionate about insects” took that passion to a whole other level when he was caught trying to smuggle almost 100 tarantulas on a plane. Per…
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 04: Zookeeper Jamie Mitchell poses for a photograph with a Mexican red-kneed tarantula during the annual stocktake of animals at ZSL London Zoo on January 4, 2016 in London, England. The zoo’s annual stocktake requires keepers to check on the numbers of every one of the 800 different animal species, including every invertebrate, bird, fish, mammal, reptile, and amphibian. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
(Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)A Polish man who is "passionate about insects" took that passion to a whole other level when he was caught trying to smuggle almost 100 tarantulas on a plane. Per People, he was trying to transport them from French Guiana in South America to Paris. In total, there was 38 adult spiders, 50 spiderlings, and dozens of egg-filled cocoons inside of his luggage.
French Guiana is home to roughly 515 different species of spiders.
Transporting live tarantulas isn't illegal, but it usually isn't allowed as they are regulated and protected by ONCFS, a French wildlife protection agency.
People also adds that as of late, there has been a surge in a black market for tarantulas. "The spiders smuggled out are sold to breeders or collectors, who make then kill the arachnids to mount in display boxes or make key chains, paperweights, and other items.
