Profepa rescued a baby jaguar at Yucatan International Airport

The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) rescued a black jaguar (panthera oca) after an operation at the Mérida International Airport, Yucatan.

Through its social networks, the agency detailed that the approximately 3-month-old animal was confiscated after an operation to prevent illegal trafficking in species - one of the most profitable illicit only behind drug trafficking, human trafficking and counterfeit goods.

Once insured, the Attorney General's Office identified that the puppy had an identification microchip, however, the documents presented for its possession had irregularities.

Hence, the jaguar was sheltered in the facilities of the Wildlife Conservation Management Unit (UMA), especially after it was confirmed that the species is under the category of risk of extinction.

It should be noted that, even though illegal trafficking in specimens, parts and derivatives of wild flora and fauna is a crime punishable by up to nine years in prison and fines equivalent to 300 to 3,000 days fine, Mexico continues to record irregular finds of exotic animals.

This was the case on March 12, when Profepa rescued a specimen of a bengal tiger that was inside a home in Chimalhuacán, in the State of Mexico (Edomex).

Before and during the rescue operation, the authorities were able to identify the animal that was sticking its head out of the window of the home where it was sheltered under irregular health and safety conditions.

The copy was made available to a (UMA) to receive the necessary attention and care. Meanwhile, there were no arrests of any alleged perpetrator of the offense.

Trafficking in exotic animals is one of the illegal businesses that generates the most money, behind only drug trafficking, human trafficking and counterfeit goods. This is due to the availability of large profits and the low-risk nature of the illicit.

“This illegal trade is based on an organized trafficking network, where there are different levels of action and different components (...) that together form a whole chain. (...) In recent years, the participation of organized crime has increased significantly.”

Under this scenario, Mexico has played a key role in the development of these practices, due to its biodiversity and geographical location that facilitates communication with various countries in North, Central and South America.

According to the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), some of the countries that stand out for their joint participation in such illicits with Mexico are the United States, Canada, Guatemala and Belize, in America; Spain and Germany, in Europe, and China in Asia - continent that is listed as the most in demand.

Among the species of fauna most illegally traded in Aztec territory are the yellow-headed parakeet, the red-and-green macaw, the yellow-breasted toucan, the spider and howler monkey, the red-kneed tarantula, the black and green iguana, the rattlesnakes.

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