Authorities released 2362 wildlife individuals, according to Ministry of Environment

The group of animals with the highest number of releases is birds, with 92 species

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On March 31, the Ministry of Environment revealed figures on the actions of the authorities against wildlife trafficking. According to the portfolio, between January and February 2022, the 33 Regional Autonomous Corporations (CAR) released 2362 individuals belonging to 185 species of wildlife into the country.

The group of animals with the highest number of releases is birds, with 92 species (50% of the total species); the second is reptiles, with 49 species (20%); mammals, with 37; arachnids, four, and amphibians, with three, good news for the country's biodiversity, confirming, once again, the commitment of the National Government and the Minambiente to the protection of natural resources, prior to the aforementioned Second Conference to be held in Cartagena de Indias on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 April.

Likewise, the Minambiente confirms the release of 52 individuals from six species that are in some category of risk of extinction, according to the categorization of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In the endemic species category, eight species of snakes, turtles, turtles and tamarin monkeys were returned to their natural environment.

“It is a source of joy to be able to return to nature this type of individuals who were once the object of illegal trafficking throughout the national territory, a crime that is now covered by article 328 A of the Environmental Crimes Act, Law 2111 of 2021. We invite all citizens to combat illegal wildlife trafficking and not lend themselves to that,” said Adriana Santa, director of Forests and Ecosystem Services at Minambiente.

In Cartagena they will seek solutions

The Second Conference will analyze, based on legislation, the links between wildlife trafficking and organized crime in the Americas. Progress will also be shown in the control and prevention of illegal trafficking in Latin American marine flora and species, and emphasis will be placed on fishing and the illegal trade in sharks.

Similarly, representatives of member countries will discuss strategies to reduce the demand for and supply of illegal wildlife products around the world. The event will share experiences of leadership and collaboration between local communities, environmental authorities, international cooperation entities and civil society organizations to achieve changes in wildlife use or exploitation practices, in order to identify alternatives for economic development and strengthening local governance to deal with this crime effectively.

The comprehensive agenda of the event, which will be announced soon, will include training spaces for companies in the financial and transport sector, in order to promote cooperation in the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking. This seeks to strengthen networks between the authorities that investigate these crimes and those with responsibilities for financial investigation, identification and development of relevant and specific solutions to combat this scourge that affects Colombian ecosystems.

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