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In the picturesque town of Freiburg, Germany, a unique case has come to light involving the release of several bearded dragons into the wild. On June 18, the Freiburg Police Headquarters received a report about these reptiles being found at a quarry in the Feldberg-Grafenhausen area.
Passersby observed at least four adult bearded dragons at the quarry, and it is suspected that more may still be in the area, having likely been released in the last few weeks. These non-native reptiles, primarily adults, were in the care of a local reptile protection association after they were rescued.
Sadly, some of the rescued bearded dragons were in poor condition, highlighting the potential consequences of releasing such animals into the wild. The Freiburg Police Headquarters' specialized unit for commercial and environmental matters is handling the case, which also includes animal protection offenses.
Releasing bearded dragons into the wild is a criminal offense under the Animal Protection Act, and the police are urging the public to remember that there are options for giving away animals, often for free, rather than resorting to such actions.
The Commercial and Environmental Unit (0761/216892-0) is handling further investigations into this matter. Witnesses who may have observed suspicious activities or have information about the origin of the animals are being sought by the unit.
For media inquiries, please contact the Freiburg Police Headquarters Public Relations Office, located at Bissierstraße 1, 79114 Freiburg. The responsible employee for media inquiries is Özkan Cira, who can be reached at +49 761 882-1013 or via email at [email protected]. The Freiburg Police Headquarters can also be found on Twitter (@PolizeiFR) and Facebook (PolizeiFreiburg), or online at www.polizei-bw.de.
The rescue of seven bearded dragons was successful, and the local reptile protection association is currently caring for them. The Freiburg Police Headquarters would like to thank the association for their swift action in this matter.
As this case continues to unfold, the Freiburg Police Headquarters reminds the public to prioritise the welfare of animals and to seek legal and humane methods for dealing with unwanted pets. Outside of office hours, e-mail inquiries can be sent to [email protected].
