The Ministry of the Environment and the Search and Rescue Group for Animals in Emergencies (BRAE) of the Official Fire Department rescued a sleeping tree boa (Corallus ruschenbergerii), a non-venomous snake, in the town of Chapinero.
The entities arrived at the scene after receiving a warning call from a family, who found the reptile in the baby car seat. According to authorities, people had been in the Llano over the holiday weekend, so it is believed that the animal would be looking for shelter.
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“Fortunately there were no injuries in this incident. We want to make a preventive call for people on their land trips, especially to the Eastern Plains and the Caribbean, to check their vehicles before returning to Bogotá to prevent wild animals from moving involuntarily in their vehicles,” said the Secretary of the Environment, Adriana Soto.
The animal was transferred to the Center for Care, Assessment and Rehabilitation of Wild Flora and Fauna, where it was admitted for evaluation and recovery.
After the medical evaluation, the veterinarians determined that it is an adult male more than one meter in length, weighing 195 grams. Likewise, they stated that it was in good condition and that it showed no signs of illness, which is why they consider that it has only been out of its habitat for a few days.
Given the incident, the entity in charge of promoting, guiding and regulating the environmental sustainability of Bogotá, urged citizens to be more cautious during their trips or trips to other areas of the country. They also recommended checking vehicles and suitcases before returning to the country’s capital to prevent animals, such as snakes, lizards, arachnids or opossums, among others, from entering cars or exposing themselves to situations that put their physical integrity at risk.
In addition to pointing out that in areas with high temperatures such as the Caribbean coast or the Eastern Plains, these cold-blooded species usually seek warmth and spaces to take refuge.
On June 14, 2024, the District Environment Secretariat seized limbs of several wild animals in Usaquén. During the control operation, the Ministry of the Environment, in coordination with the Panthera Colombia Organization and the Environmental Police, managed to recover 75 products made with parts of wildlife specimens.
The sellers sold the remains of the animals illegally along the pedestrian corridor of Carrera 7 in the town of Usaquén. The seized parts correspond to a puma skull, four real parrot feathers, 50 shark teeth and 20 sea lion teeth. These products, made from wildlife, were displayed by vendors at the flea market without the respective permits or legal licenses.
Given the situation, the entity is advancing in the criminal process against the people who were marketing these products as indicated by Law 1333 of 2009. Likewise, the Penal Code, in its article 328, establishes penalties of 60 to 135 months and a fine of 134 to 43,750 current legal monthly minimum wages.
The environmental authority, together with the National Police, continues with control operations to counteract the illegal trafficking of wild species, as well as hunting, mobilization, commercialization and possession in different parts of the city, in addition to the controls it carries out. in land and air terminals. While the district Administration called on citizens to report any case of wildlife trafficking or risk. In addition to explaining the ways to report this type of behavior that affects the integrity of animals.
