Moscow police have confiscated the heads and pelts of a rare Amur tiger and a far eastern leopard, as well as 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of what appears to have been the animals' meat, from a mall in the city's southeastern outskirts, the police department said.
One kilogram of these animals' illicit meat costs about 100,000 rubles ($1,500) on the black market, the heads and legs can go for as much as 250,000 rubles each, and the pelts for 700,000 rubles ($10,000), the police said in a statement posted online.
The rare animal parts are used to concoct medicines and to cook "exquisite oriental dishes," the police statement noted.
The parts were found at two restaurants at the Sadovod mall on the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD).
Police are currently determining who could be liable, in accordance with the federal law against poaching or trafficking endangered animals, the statement said.
