Spanish police announced on Saturday they had raided a unlicensed animal sanctuary and rescued hundreds of exotic creatures including leopard tortoises, iguanas and geckos.

The Civil Guard said the shelter was organised by an NGO that solicited donations on social networks to care for the animals.

But the facility in Avila province, west of Madrid, did not have proper licences, the animals "lacked documentation and legal traceability" and most of them had come from "irregular transfers", according to police.

"In total, 472 exotic animals have been seized, including leopard tortoises, spurred tortoises, Mediterranean tortoises, iguanas, geckos of different varieties, tarantulas and Nile monitor lizards, among others," said a Civil Guard statement.

Four people were under investigation fo

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