AN imperial scorpion was in quarantine at Jersey Zoo today after arriving in the Island without any paperwork to prove its legal origin.

The black creature, also known as an emperor scorpion, was discovered by customs officers in a consignment of reptiles imported from the UK yesterday by the pet company Animal Kingdom, which is based in St John.

On spotting the scorpion, which is a species normally found in tropical moist forests in western Africa, Customs officers called in Louise Magris from the Environment Department.

Both Customs and Environment have responsibility for monitoring CITES regulations (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species) which guard against the illegal movement around the world of endangered species.

Imperial scorpions are featured on the CITES Two list which is not the most regulated but requires the correct paperwork to prove the legality of a specimen.