Terra Natura Benidorm has been officially designated as a CITES Rescue Centre by the Directorate-General for Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification (DGBBD), under Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. Joining this network will enable us to work alongside the authorities in the reception, custody, care and rehabilitation of wild animals that have been confiscated or seized by the authorities in cases involving illegal activity.

Our inclusion in the network follows a process that began in April 2024. Since then, the CITES authority has carried out a series of inspections to assess the suitability of our park, facilities, equipment and human resources, all of which resulted in favourable reports. Having successfully completed the inspections and met all the established requirements, Terra Natura Benidorm has now been recognised as having the capacity to provide appropriate accommodation, care and welfare for animals placed in our custody.

This milestone builds on the occasional collaborations we have already carried out with the authorities. From now on, we will have a specific administrative framework as a CITES Rescue Centre, allowing us, when requested by the authorities and in line with our capabilities and the individual needs of each animal, to provide accommodation, custody, veterinary care and, where appropriate, rehabilitation for certain confiscated or seized animals.

CITES regulates the international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora and establishes control mechanisms to help combat illegal wildlife trafficking. When the authorities confiscate live animals, they may arrange for them to be transferred to rescue centres with the appropriate facilities and expertise to care for them. As a CITES Rescue Centre, Terra Natura Benidorm will be able to receive these animals following notification from the authorities and after an assessment based on the availability of our facilities and staff, the animal’s individual needs and its compatibility with the animals already in our care.

We have a veterinary team and specialist animal care staff available 24 hours a day, as well as facilities and technical resources suitable for the care of a range of species. We also have previous experience in this field and have already received requests to accommodate reptiles, particularly snakes, following seizures carried out by Spain’s law enforcement agencies. Our team has also provided advice to these professionals on safe handling and identification techniques.

Our status as a CITES Rescue Centre also involves adapting our protocols for the reception of animals and a commitment to safeguarding their welfare while supporting the work of the authorities. Where necessary, we will carry out health and genetic assessments, veterinary treatments and rehabilitation programmes, while maintaining full traceability of each animal until its final destination is determined. An animal’s stay at Terra Natura Benidorm may be temporary, extended or indefinite, depending on the decision of the competent authority. If reintroduction into the wild or another destination is deemed appropriate, the animals will be returned to the authorities and we will coordinate their subsequent transfer.

Our collaboration also has an educational and conservation dimension. We will be able to develop awareness-raising and educational activities relating to these animals, which will be communicated to the DGBBD, helping visitors to understand the consequences of illegal wildlife trafficking and the importance of protecting biodiversity.

By joining the CITES Rescue Centre network, Terra Natura Benidorm is strengthening its contribution to the conservation of endangered species and making its facilities, knowledge and professional expertise available to the authorities. Through this collaboration, we aim to play an active role in supporting the fight against illegal wildlife trade and helping to protect wild species and biodiversity.