Some of the birds were allegedly kept to feed reptiles
A Long Island man was cited after authorities discovered he possessed more than 100 exotic animals inside his basement and backyard, reports said.
The man was unidentified, but was reported after a fairgoer saw him displaying the animals at the Bellmore Street Festival in October, New York City television station WABC-TV reported. Humane Long Island, an animal rights group, complained to the Nassau County SPCA.
Authorities confiscated a South American Ostrich, peacocks, dozens of chickens, ducks, geese, an endangered Tiger Salamander, Giant African Snail, North American Opossum, two prairie dogs, an Asian Water Monitor, a Savannah monitor, a Sulcata tortoise, degus and many snakes and turtles, the television station reported.
“The illicit wildlife trade is one of the largest sources of criminal earnings, behind only arms smuggling and drug trafficking. But the animals pay the price,” said John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island.