Close X
Sunday, September 22, 2024
ADVT 
National

Border officers at Edmonton airport find tarantulas in plastic container, toy plane

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Aug, 2023 09:48 AM
  • Border officers at Edmonton airport find tarantulas in plastic container, toy plane

The Canada Border Services Agency says officers discovered two live tarantulas hidden inside plastic containers at the Edmonton International Airport earlier this year. 

In May, officers saw irregularities in a small package from Hong Kong and found a male tarantula hidden inside a plastic container. 

Weeks later, an inspection of another package from the same shipper found a female spider hidden inside a children’s toy plane. 

It turns out the species of tarantula, which is native to Hong Kong, did not require permits to import into Canada.

But the agency says the spiders were seized because they weren't transported humanely.

They have since found a new home at the Royal Alberta Museum. 

The agency says all living creatures, including pets, must be declared when importing them into Canada in order to avoid spreading disease and introducing foreign species.

"CBSA officers were able to find and rescue these two tarantulas from inhumane shipping methods. All living creatures need to be transported and imported properly to keep Canada’s ecosystem and biodiversity safe," said Lisa Laurencelle-Peace, the agency's regional director of the Prairie region. 

"The CBSA works closely with its enforcement partners, including (Environment and Climate Change Canada) enforcement officers, to keep Canada’s border secure and stop the illegal wildlife trade."

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Trans-Canada Highway closed, crews respond to crash in western Manitoba

Trans-Canada Highway closed, crews respond to crash in western Manitoba
RCMP have posted on social media that they are on the scene of a very serious collision near the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 5. The STARS air ambulance service says it has been dispatched to the scene.

Trans-Canada Highway closed, crews respond to crash in western Manitoba

Drop in housing starts in Vancouver

Drop in housing starts in Vancouver
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says housing starts in Vancouver tumbled 45 per cent in May. The drop covered all types of projects -- from apartments and condos to other kinds of multi-unit developments -- and the trend was reflected in Montreal, where starts were off 35 per cent, and in Toronto, where starts fell 28 per cent.

Drop in housing starts in Vancouver

Ottawa confirms land expropriations for rail bypass after Lac-Mégantic tragedy

Ottawa confirms land expropriations for rail bypass after Lac-Mégantic tragedy
Ottawa released a statement Wednesday confirming that it was going ahead with the expropriations without the consent of all affected land owners. Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra and Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek say in the release that the federal government will take physical possession of the parcels of land required for the project on Aug. 1.  

Ottawa confirms land expropriations for rail bypass after Lac-Mégantic tragedy

Ottawa boosts Haiti sanctions, police funding during summit aimed at resolving crisis

Ottawa boosts Haiti sanctions, police funding during summit aimed at resolving crisis
Ottawa is also adding $13 million to its funding for law enforcement, as Canada and the U.S. focus on shoring up the work of the Haitian National Police as they try to stop gangs from committing brazen acts of violence and controlling critical infrastructure.

Ottawa boosts Haiti sanctions, police funding during summit aimed at resolving crisis

Man finds metal bolt in McDonald's meal

Man finds metal bolt in McDonald's meal
A man is suing a fast-food restaurant in B-C after allegedly finding a metal bolt in his meal. Court documents say carpenter Roman Chromy was eating at a New Westminster McDonald's where he bought the allegedly contaminated food.

Man finds metal bolt in McDonald's meal

Man found guilty of sexual assault

Man found guilty of sexual assault
A B-C man has been found guilty of sexual assault stemming from an attack in Metro Vancouver in early 2022. North Vancouver R-C-M-P say Mission resident Jairus-Paul Sacramento is to be sentenced in court at a later date.

Man found guilty of sexual assault