'We deliver to you': Disturbing advertisements emerge offering tiger cubs and other big cats to Australians for $1,000
- Online retailers are selling tigers, white lion cubs and cheetahs to Australians
- White lion cubs were being sold for $1,000 each and white tiger cubs for $1,050
- Ads have been referred to the authorities as they break laws on animal imports
Shocking advertisements have appeared online promising to sell tiger, white lion and cheetah cubs to Australians.
The advertisements were found on classified sites and social media before being reported to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Water.
Sellers promise to send the exotic animals to Australia from countries such as Turkey and Cameroon.
Donalea Patman, founder of animal charity For The Love Of Wild, was alerted to the advertisements on August 10.
Shocking advertisements have appeared online promising to sell tiger, white lion and cheetah cubs to Australians
The advertisements offer the big cats 'for sale to any loving and caring homes'
She immediately contacted one seller, who said they had sent cubs to Melbourne in 2012 and would be able to do the same for her.
'We know all the importation requirements of Australia,' the seller said in an WhatsApp message to Ms Patman.
'If you are a private zoo owner, it makes it even more easier to import white lion cubs.
'All we need are your names and delivery address so that we can document and ship to you.'
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The seller said they microchip and vaccinate the animals and provide the proper documentation.
White lion cubs were being sold for $1,000 each and white tiger cubs for $1,050.
The seller even offered to declaw cheetah cubs and assured Ms Patman she would not have any trouble with customs, Yahoo Australia reported.
Ms Patsman took to social media on Tuesday to slam scammers who advertise the sale of exotic animals in Australia.
'The sale of exotic pets on these sites drives the desire to own these animals - we're in lockdown and people are trolling through these platforms thinking that it is OK to buy and own exotic pets,' she wrote on Facebook.
'One seller stating that all their big cats are declawed!
Ms Patsman took to social media on Tuesday to slam sellers who advertise the sale of exotic animals in Australia - only for seller to discover the sales person is from overseas
'Whilst we focus on wet markets in China, the biggest issue is the global LEGAL trade in endangered species. Worth a staggering US$320billion a year and yet the system that facilitates and manages that trade hasn't been updated since the 70s.'
The advertisements have been reported to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Water who in turn referred them to the ACCC's Scamwatch department.
'The Department of Agriculture has informed Scamwatch of these ads, however to date we have not received any reports regarding these websites or scams involving similar exotic animals,' an ACCC spokesperson told Yahoo.
'We are and will continue to monitor Scamwatch reports.'
The maximum penalty for wildlife trade offences in Australia is ten years in jail or a fine of $210,000.
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