Australia Busts Illegal Cockroach Farm, Seizes 100,000 Roaches Worth Over AU$200,000

(Sydney, 5th, Combined Foreign News) Australian wildlife officials have recently uncovered an illegal breeding facility in a suburban area, seizing 100,000 illegally bred cockroaches. The roaches are worth more than AU$200,000 (approximately NT$4.49 million) on the black market for exotic insects.

According to AFP, the Australian Department of the Environment stated today that law enforcement officers, during a raid on a commercial breeding facility in Bathurst, west of Sydney, seized over 100,000 illegally bred cockroaches. The seized roaches include the larger Madagascar hissing cockroach, known for its hissing sound as a defense mechanism, and the Dubia cockroach, which is bred specifically as feed for pet lizards and has become an invasive species.

Photos show one of the seized Madagascar hissing cockroaches is large enough to almost cover an adult's palm. The Department of the Environment noted that the seized illegally bred cockroaches are worth approximately AU$200,000.

A department official stated, "We take the protection of Australia's unique biodiversity and the enforcement of national environmental laws very seriously. We are witnessing the illegal breeding and sale of exotic cockroaches and are now issuing warning notices to pet traders and owners."

According to reports, Australian officials now face the difficult task of humanely destroying these remarkably resilient cockroaches. This insect is so resilient that it has even spawned urban legends about its ability to survive nuclear accidents. (Editor: Hong Qiyuan) 1150605