By Louise Rasmussen

PARIS, Dec 11 (Reuters) – Law enforcement agencies from 134 countries seized a record number of illegally traded live animals between September and October, underlining a growing demand for ‍exotic pets, Interpol said in a statement on Thursday.

Nearly 30,000 live animals were seized in a month-long global sting by police, customs, border security, and forestry and wildlife authorities that was dubbed Operation Thunder 2025, the agency said.

A record amount of illegally traded wild animal meat was seized, as ‌well as insects, plants and timber.

Interpol identified some 1,100 ‌suspects, and arrested 24 people in South Africa, two in Vietnam and one in Qatar. It did not elaborate on the arrests.

“Operation Thunder once again exposes the sophistication and scale of th

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