Lions and Leopards Rescued From Animal Smugglers in Indonesia

Indonesian police seized several lion and leopard cubs, among other animals, and arrested two men under suspicion of being part of an endangered animal smuggling ring over the weekend.

The first man was arrested Saturday, December 14, in Pekanbaru, after picking up suspicious boxes from a speedboat. The boxes contained four lion cubs, a leopard cub and 58 turtles.

Police then arrested another suspect who appeared to be planning to sell the smuggled wildlife to a trader on Java island.

Officials said the two men were allegedly part of an international trafficking syndicate and that they bought the haul from a smuggler in Malaysia.

The turtles and the leopard cub are listed as critically endangered, and the lion is listed as endangered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. (AP)