LifestyleCat saves the day: Alert feline helps uncover smuggled iguana

Cat saves the day: Alert feline helps uncover smuggled iguana

The owners of the cat can be proud of her (illustrative photo)
The owners of the cat can be proud of her (illustrative photo)
Images source: © Getty Images | Monika Wisniewska Amaviael

4:27 PM EDT, July 31, 2024

On board a plane that was supposed to fly from Rome to Catania, there was a cat named Luna. The pet's strange movements and restless behaviour caught the attention of other passengers and the cabin crew. It turned out that Luna was trying to alert them to a shocking discovery.

Luna the cat was legally in a carrier on an Italian airline flight, but a passenger smuggled an iguana illegally. According to the daily "Corriere della Sera," the cat sensed the presence of this "exotic companion" hidden under a red blouse.

The cat thwarted the illegal endeavor

A peculiar cover for the smuggled iguana was a giant plush toy—a monkey—that the young woman held on her lap to conceal the live animal under her clothing.

However, Luna's strange and even aggressive behavior drew the attention of her owners, other passengers, and the crew. They began to observe the suspicious passenger, and soon, a giant lizard appeared before everyone's eyes.

After this discovery, the woman's journey with the iguana quickly ended. At the Roman airport, police immediately intervened and escorted the reptile's owner off the plane.

Many questions

The Italian press emphasized that Luna the Cat proved more effective than the most modern security systems, ranging from those in the USA to those in Italy. The woman had flown to Rome from Los Angeles, raising a big mystery: how could the iguana be smuggled without detection?

The case is currently being investigated to provide answers to all the questions. The tourist can expect to be fined. "In contrast, the cat deserves a reward, at least a treat," reads the Italian newspaper.

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