Dutch Police Find 40 Boxes of Rare Animal Bones

Two Dutch men were arrested after police discovered 40 boxes filled with animal bones, including those of a rare snow leopard, in the northeastern city of Emmen, a police spokesman said Friday.

"Police received a tip-off about the men and when they searched two homes on Thursday, they found chimpanzee, crocodile and hippopotamus skeletons and even the skull of rare snow leopard, as well as ivory," Ron Reinds told Agence France Presse.

The father and son, aged 54 and 31, could not explain why the skeletons were in their possession and they were arrested, said Reinds, adding the men are being investigated under Dutch fauna and flora legislation.

Described by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List as endangered, the snow leopard is found in the high mountains of central Asia.

There are an estimated 4,000 to 6,500 of the animals left, according to the IUCN.