As part of the commemoration of World Environment Day, the Ministry of the Environment released 144 wild animals in a protected area of Bogotá and in two municipalities of Cundinamarca.
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“By returning these species to their natural habitat, we ratify the commitment of the District Administration to provide well-being to all forms of life. In the Córdoba wetland, we released 39 wild animals such as tinguas, bluebirds, doves, blackbirds and owls, which contribute to the dispersal of seeds. Added to this release are the 105 animals that last week we returned to their natural habitat in the municipalities of Nariño and Guataquí, in Cundinamarca, on the eastern slope of the Magdalena River,” explained the Secretary of the Environment, Adriana Soto.
All of these animals were recovered in different control and rescue operations in Bogotá.
“They are specimens of wildlife that had been victims of wildlife trafficking, one of the three most lucrative crimes after arms and drug trafficking,” Soto added.
The individuals that returned to their natural environment correspond to arachnids, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, which had been recovered in wildlife trafficking control operations in Bogotá.
This day was possible thanks to the Interinstitutional Committee for Control of Illegal Traffic in Wild Flora and Fauna of the department of Cundinamarca and Bogotá, in which the District Environment Secretariat, the CAR, Corpoguavio, Corporinoquía, National Natural Parks of Colombia and the Secretariat participate. of the Environment of the Government of Cundinamarca. The released wild animals were housed in the Center for Care, Assessment and Rehabilitation of Wild Flora and Fauna of the Ministry of the Environment and there they received the medical, nutritional and biological care necessary for their recovery and subsequent release into their natural environment.
World Environment Day
On June 5 of each year, this date is commemorated, created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, to raise awareness among citizens about environmental issues and call for action to intensify activities for the care, attention and creation of public policies that lead to the protection of the environment.
The District Development Plan, approved in recent days, has key strategies and goals to protect fauna and flora. For this reason, the Ministry of the Environment will guarantee adequate control and punishment of illegal activities such as trafficking in wild flora and fauna.
Additionally, institutional strengthening will be carried out so that the entities in the sector are a public management model, efficient and transparent, for the promotion of animal welfare and prevention of animal abuse in co-responsibility with civil society.
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The environmental authority, together with the National Police, will continue to carry out control operations to counteract the illegal trafficking of wild species (hunting, mobilization, marketing and possession) in different parts of the city, in addition to the controls it carries out at the terminals. land and air. The entity calls on citizens to report any case of trafficking, possession or risk involving wildlife through email. [email protected] or to the lines 318 827 77 33, 317 427 68 28, 318 712 55 60 or (601) 377 88 54.
The Ministry of the Environment continues to care for wild animals, which are recovered in control and monitoring operations for species trafficking, at the Center for Care, Assessment and Rehabilitation of Wild Flora and Fauna in Engativá.
Currently, the Center cares for 1,187 wild animals that are receiving veterinary medical treatment and rehabilitation and recovery processes to see if they can return to their natural environment. Wild animals must be free and in their habitat.
