Two U.S. citizens jailed as snake theft suspects


Booking.com	Published Friday, March 13, 2020 Two U.S. citizens jailed as snake theft suspects By the A.M. Costa Rica staff Two U.S. citizens have been detains for allegedly trying to steal a snake from a protected wild zone, said park rangers of the Arenal Volcano National Park in Alajuela Province. According to the police report, both foreigners had entered the national park through restricted access during the night. When they were stopped by rangers, an adult protected species snake known as Bocaraca, Bothriechis schlegelii, was found in the backpack of one of the suspects. The snake species is called the eyelash viper in English. It is highly venomous. In addition to the seizure of the animal, tools carried by the suspects in their backpacks were seized, said the rangers. "The reptile was released immediately, in its natural habitat," said the park guards in its statement. The names of the suspects were not released by authorities. Tourist Police of La Fortuna station assisted in the flagrante arrests. The two suspects were jailed on a wildlife offense at the Public Ministry cells where they were interrogated by the judicial agents. They must wait for a judge who will consider pre-trial measures against them. In flagrante delicto, or 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. Wildlife Conservation Law No.7317 protects wild flora and fauna and those who steal or keep wild animals can be fined between $1,400 and $2,800. In the case of wild animals in danger of extinction or with small populations, these fines are doubled. This is the third case of an alleged crime against wildlife in less than a month. On Feb. 23, the Deputy Prosecutor's Office of Heredia Province opened an investigation of a man surnamed Wauthion-Vargas, who is a suspect of a wildlife trade crime. Wauthion- Vargas was arrested and taken to the cells of the Public Ministry after agents of the Judicial Investigation Organization received information that the man was allegedly online selling an anaconda snake, Eunectes murinus. Judicial agents said they located the man's house in Heredia and found the snake in a plastic box. The animal was confiscated and handed over to the specialists of the animal rescue Zoo Ave in Alajuela Province. In addition to the animal, the agents seized Wauthion-Vargas’s cell phone as part of the evidence for the case. The sale of wild animals is a crime in Costa Rica. Another wildlife animal crime was reported also in February when police in Los Chiles, Alajuela Province, confiscated a jaguar cub that was being held in captivity. Thanks to an anonymous complaint, police said they were able to locate where the little wild cat was being hidden in the house of a woman in that community. The animal was taken to the National Animal Health Service wildlife agency. A complaint was opened against the person who allegedly hid the wild animal. In January, rangers of the National System of Conservation Areas, SINAC, presented 72 complaints to the prosecution for alleged environmental crimes against 74 people. These alleged environmental crimes could be detected as a result of the special operation carried out by SINAC in December and January. "During those days, about 900 people, including volunteers and officials, participated in the prevention, protection and control mainly of flora and fauna," said SINAC. In addition to the allegations, 57 seizures of wild animals that were in captivity were carried out during this period. In December 2019, rangers of SINAC, confiscated several wild animals that were being exhibited in a store in Orotina, Alajuela Province. According to the park rangers' report, the case began when a complaint was received Nov. 22 about a baby white-face monkey, Cebus Imitator, two green iguanas and an orange-headed parakeet , Eupsittula canicularis, which were in captivity within the commercial premises. "The little white-faced monkey is an infant, who was tied around the neck with a dog leash. Because of his age, the mother might have been hunted to steal the baby or died for some other circumstance," said the park rangers in their statement. According to SINAC, the animals were taken to a rescue center, where the specialist will help them get returned to their habitat. In addition to the confiscation of animals, park rangers opened the file against the person believed to be keeping the animals in captivity. The case was presented before the Orotina Court of Contravention. Park rangers called on the population to continue helping to report any suspicions of captive wild animals to the line (506) 2522-6500. ------------------------ Have you heard of people keeping wild animals as pets? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com