Gelsenkirchen (dpa / lnw) – Police officers happened to come across a collection of animals that is not quite everyday in a house in Gelsenkirchen. They discovered various species of monitor lizards, newts, short-eared hedgehogs and turtles on Thursday, as they later announced. Since there was a suspicion of serious violations of the Animal Welfare Act, the animals were secured with the help of experts. Proceedings have been initiated against the 25-year-old owner. The search in the house was actually for a completely different reason, as the officials said.