PRESS RELEASE
6th August 2016
The Belize Forest Department has received multiple reports and complaints of illegal hunting and killing of wildlife in the Belize River Valley Area as a result of the flooding situation.
Concerned residents in the Belize River Valley communities have reported to authorities numerous cases of game violations within a relatively short period of time. They report that several persons have been conducting illegal and excessive hunting since the rising floods, especially indiscriminate hunting of wildlife stranded in highland areas. Residents are concerned that these actions will threaten their local wildlife populations of game species such as: deer, white lipped peccaries, gibnut and other game species.
The Forest Department recognizes that in the wake of Hurricane Earl, rising floodwaters are displacing many wildlife species from their natural habitat, and some indiscriminate individuals have seen this as an opportunity to capture or kill wildlife. When natural disaster strikes, it is often easy to prey on wildlife during their displacement but this reaction can jeopardize not only the survival of wildlife species recovering from the natural disaster, but entire wildlife ecosystems, local communities and people’s livelihoods as well.
Many times we do not take into account the wildlife loss as a result of disasters, but the wildlife displacement and opportunistic overhunting can severely affect our communities’ ability to maintain healthy species population, which is part of the food source for local residents or their source of income. Abiding by wildlife laws is critical now more than ever, as it can allow the survival of these already fragile wildlife populations and enable the re-growth and recovery of game species for the following seasons.
The Department has dispatched a team of Forestry personnel to patrol and work with at risk communities to address any violations of the Wildlife Protection Act. The Department kindly asks that residents, the general public and restaurateurs to desist from purchasing game meat during this time and to continue to assist them in reporting of any wildlife violation to the Forest Department at 822-2079 or at [email protected].
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