Between January and February 2022, 2,362 wild animals were released in Colombia

The Colombian Ministry of Environment reported this Saturday that between January and February 2022 2,362 individuals belonging to 185 species of wildlife have been released in the country, 525 of whom had been rescued in seizures for trafficking and illegal possession.

This achievement will be shared by the Environment portfolio during the Second High-Level Conference of the Americas on the Illegal Trade in Wildlife, which will be held in Cartagena de Indias on Tuesday, April 5 and Wednesday, April 6, an event organized together with the United Kingdom embassy that will seek to consolidate strategies to address one of the most serious scourges suffered by the fauna and flora of the continent.

“We have been strengthening controls to prevent trafficking in our fauna and flora, as well as campaigns to raise environmental awareness among citizens, so that we all take better care of ecosystems, which are reservoirs of life. At next week's Second High-Level Conference of the Americas on the Illegal Trade in Wildlife, which we will make progress with international experts and allies in the conservation and defense of our countries' natural heritage,” said Environment Minister Carlos Eduardo Correa.

This portfolio indicated that the group with the highest number of releases in the first two months was birds with 92 species (50% of the total species); the second group was reptiles, with 49 species (20%); mammals followed by 37 species; arachnids, four, and amphibians, with three, which were returned by Regional Autonomous Corporations (CAR) throughout the country.

Environmental authorities and the security forces also released a significant number of mammals such as honeybears and deer; amphibians such as frogs and toads of different species; and tarantulas, 140 of which were rescued on Friday at the cargo terminal of Bogotá's El Dorado airport, which were to be sent to Mexico, without permits demonstrating their provenance and legal mobilization.

The 134 specimens that remained alive were transferred to the Wildlife Care, Assessment and Rehabilitation Center, where a group of professionals provide them with the medical, biological and nutritional care necessary for their stabilization and subsequent return to their habitat.

“During the Second Conference, progress in public policy against illegal wildlife trade will be known, in line with the Lima Declaration, and an approximation will be made on the issues and ways to counter organized crime,” said the portfolio.

Finally, he indicated that the agenda envisages representatives of member countries to evaluate and discuss measures to reduce the demand for and supply of illegal wildlife products in the world, while addressing the lack of information about illegal trafficking and presenting methodologies for producing scientific evidence, local knowledge and information to combat this environmental crime.

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