1,617 live animals were seized in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil in the second half of 2022

1,617 live animals were seized in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil in the second half of 2022

February 14, 2023 13:41

The report carried out by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) reveals that between July and December 2022, 192 news items were recorded about confiscations of live vertebrate wildlife, or its parts, of illegal origin, published on the information portals and social networks of the environmental authorities and government agencies.

Despite the clear evidence on the origin of zoonotic diseases and the effects on biodiversity caused by the illegal extraction and trade of wild animals, this environmental crime continues to occur in the countries of the Andean-Amazon region.



WCS, within the framework of the regional initiative Alianza por la Fauna Silvestre y los Bosques, financed by the European Union; performs monthly monitoring and follow-up of the news on confiscations of wild fauna, alive or its parts, based on control actions, published on the news portals and social networks of the environmental authorities and government agencies of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil (states of Acre and Amazonas) to consolidate biannual reports on this problem and emerging trends, which support decision-making.



The news registry of the seizures made between July and December 2022, allowed us to identify that the seized specimens correspond to 158 species belonging to the groups of birds (37.3%); mammals (34.8%); reptiles (19.6%); amphibians (1.9%); fish and other unidentified species (1.3%). Of the total number of specimens confiscated, 1,617 were live individuals, possibly destined for the pet trade, private collections, or human consumption. Dead individuals and parts or derivatives such as skins, meat and skulls, among others, were also seized.



Among the species that were most frequently found in the seizures of the monitored period are the margay or ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), the spider monkey or maquisapa (Ateles chamek), both species listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which means that they are endangered species and whose international trade is authorized only under exceptional conditions. In addition, the suri (Rhea spp.), the three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus) and the blue and yellow macaw (Ara ararauna), species listed in CITES Appendix II, that is, they were regularly found in the seizures. They are not necessarily threatened with extinction but could become so unless their international trade is strictly controlled.

 

Regarding the retentions in the countries, the news monitoring revealed that:

 

In Colombia, in November 2022, in a single operation, 166 live individuals of different species were seized (a jaguar, marmosets, toucans, among others) and an alleged trafficking network was dismantled with the arrest of 10 people by the Specialized Directorate against Human Rights Violations, the Córdoba Section, the Technical Investigation Corps (CTI) and the National Police.

 

 
In Ecuador, in November, 18 live specimens (including parrots, parakeets, monkeys, among others) were seized through different operations in several cantons of the Manabí province, carried out by the Wildlife Unit and the National Police Unit of Environment Protection.

 

In Peru, in October, more than 100 specimens (skulls and skins of margays, jaguars and snakes, as well as live turtles, among others) were confiscated in an operation in markets in Iquitos, carried out by the Specialized Prosecutor for Environmental Matters (FEMA). , the Peruvian National Police (PNP) and the Regional Management of Forestry and Wildlife Development (Gerfor Loreto).

 

 
In Bolivia, in August, when starting an investigation after the complaint of a publication made on a social network for the death of 3 jaguars (Panthera onca) - a female and two cubs - the Prosecutor's Office and the Forest and Environmental Preservation Police ( POFOMA) carried out a search operation at a house in the city of Ixiamas, where 11 teeth of the same species were confiscated and 1 person was arrested.

 

In Brazil, in August, more than 21 tons of paiche fish (Arapaima gigas) were confiscated in the state of Amazonas by the Federal Police.



As part of the judicial processes for the illegal trade in wildlife, the figures revealed that:

 

  • 70 people were arrested. According to the news, there were 36 people in Colombia, 19 in Bolivia, 11 in Ecuador, 2 in Brazil (Amazon and Acre) and 2 in Peru.
  • A total of 15 cases of wildlife trafficking in the prosecution stage were registered in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
  • 56 suspects were prosecuted between July and December. Of the reported cases, 3 resulted in convictions.

 

The highest prison sentence for wildlife trafficking in the period was 2 years and 6 months, imposed in Peru.



Despite the control actions of the authorities, these data show the presence of illegal trafficking in wild animals in the region. Illegal trafficking threatens the survival of species and is a public health risk for humans due to the transmission of diseases. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the trafficking of wild animals also threatens people's safety, since it involves organized crime networks that may be related to other crimes such as drug trafficking, people or weapons, money laundering and corruption (UNODC, 2020). For these reasons, the call to the community is to preserve wild animals in their natural habitat and join conservation actions.

News report on wildlife trafficking in the Andean-Amazonian countries

Download the infographic

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About the Alliance for Wildlife and Forests


The Alliance for Wildlife and Forests is a regional action promoted by the European Union and implemented by WCS and WWF that seeks to combat wildlife and timber trafficking, through the commitment of civil society in strengthening the application of the law and cooperation with and between the authorities of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and tri-border areas with Brazil. 


For media contact:


Dora Arevalo. Senior Communications Specialist – AAO Wildlife Anti-Trafficking Program. wcs. darevalo@wcs.org +(57) 3164783045.

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