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Illegal hunters are main threat to wild animals in Costa Rica, specialists say |
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The updated report of the National Biodiversity Institute states that the wildlife of Costa Rica, which includes all naturally occurring animals, fungi and plants, is more threatened by illegal hunting than by anything else. The International Union for Conservation of Nature reports illegal hunting of Baird's tapirs, jaguars, white-tailed deer and sea turtles constitutes a major threat for these populations in Costa Rica. Costa Rica supports an enormous variety of wildlife due to its geographic position between the North and South American continents, its neo-tropical climate, and its wide variety of habitats. The country is home to more than 500,000 species, which represents nearly 4 percent of the total species estimated worldwide, which makes Costa Rica one of the 20 countries with the highest biodiversity in the world. In one of the most recent operation with park rangers of the National System of Conservation Areas, as A.M. Costa Rica reported on May 7, the border police detained two people suspected of illegal hunting in the Santa Rosa National Park*, and an additional two other people suspected of looting turtle nests in Siquirres*. Police report that the illegal hunting suspects were armed with two shotguns, a rifle, and several long knives. The identity of the suspects is being verified by the police because they were not carrying identification at the time of the arrest. In the second case, the Coastguard of the Siquirres station detained two people suspected of looting of turtle nests. They were carrying bags containing nearly 400 turtle eggs. The police reported that the suspects were in a boat with a 30 HP motor, and were detected by the park rangers who were doing a routine patrol. The suspects were not carrying identification at the time of arrest and there were no documents on the boat. "They had fishing tools and a shipment of 397 turtle eggs, which were recovered to be returned to their habitat," said police report. The four suspects were sent to the cells of the Public Ministry where they were interviewed by the agents of the Judicial Investigation Police. According to the park rangers, turtle eggs are trafficked mainly because restaurants of the Caribbean zone offer them as a traditional dish to customers. On February the Operational Environmental Group, made up of park rangers specialized in the capture of illegal hunters, arrested a man surnamed Rojas-Bermúdez, suspected of illegal hunting in the Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve* in Bagaces, Guanacaste. The police report said, "in addition to the capture of the suspect, two 12-gauge shotguns, ammunition and 2 sacks of meat from 2 adult deer already cut into pieces were seized." The suspect was taken to the Flagrant Prosecutor's Office of the court in Liberia in Guanacaste. The flagrant delicto or sometimes simply in flagrante is a legal term used to indicate that a criminal has been caught in the act of committing an offense. The colloquial "caught red-handed" or "caught rapid" are English equivalents. The Ministry of Environment is calling on the public to make an official complaint of any suspected crime against the wildlife. A complaint can be made in person, online or by phone. No appointment is needed to complain in person at Ministry offices* located Avenue 8, Street 25A, in downtown San José. To make a complaint online, fill out the form on the Ministry “ Denuncias” link*. The third option is making the complaint by calling Ministry extension number 1192, from 7 a. m. to 9 p. m., even Sundays and holidays. The phone line executives also can take calls in English. ------------- Have you ever heard about illegal hunting in your community? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com |
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