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Cops seize coats made from skins of endangered species
COATS thought to be made from the skins of some of the world’s most endangered species – including tiger and snow leopard – were seized during the arrest of the owner of a luxury Primrose Hill boutique in a raid on Thursday.
Michael Moosah, whose Gales store in Regent’s Park Road has served fur-lovers for decades, was arrested by police from the Met’s Wildlife Crime Unit on Thursday.
Officers seized eight coats, one of which was allegedly made from tiger fur. A police statement said: “Others are believed to have been made from leopard, snow leopard and other cat species, which are subject to trade controls under the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).”
Mr Moosah was released on bail after the raid but returned to a police station yesterday (Wednesday) for questioning, and was bailed again until January.
He refused to answer questions yesterday (Wednesday) while the case was ongoing.
A shop worker said: “We are all very cross. After all, we’ve been here for 40 years.”
The trade in furs from Asian big cats is pushing some exotic species rapidly towards extinction, according to experts. Zabri Zane, director of advocacy at the World Wildlife Fund’s programme on illegal trading, said: “There is a total international ban on the sale of these products.
“In terms of tigers, there are less than 5,000 left in the wild – and one of the key threats is poaching for bones or their skins.” |
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