Security officers at the Farasan Islands off the Saudi coast have foiled an attempt to smuggle out live gazelles.
The would-be smuggler, a teenager, tied the legs of the live gazelles and hid them under the steering wheel of his suburban utility vehicle.
However, as he was about to cross from the islands to mainland Saudi Arabia, his plan was foiled by staff from the port and a delegate from the wildlife reserve on the islands, Saudi news site Sabq reported on Wednesday.
An official from the Saudi Wildlife Authority said that the teenager would be referred to the police for legal action.
The Farasan Islands are a large coral-island group in the Red Sea, located around 40 kilometers offshore from Jizan, in the far southwestern part of the kingdom.
The Farasan Islands Gazelles are among the species given special protection by the Saudi Wildlife Authority.
Social media users welcomed the decision to hold the would-be smuggler legally accountable.
"What he did is sickening," a user posted. "I pray to God they make him pay a hefty fine for failing to abide by the laws. Such a fine would deter others from engaging in such crazy attitudes."
"Fortunately, his attempt to smuggle the gazelles was foiled because it would have been a tragic onslaught on the rare species," another user said.
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This article has been adapted from its original source.
