NEWSDAY JUNE 02, 2 K 14 Cruel and inhumane By CECILY ASSON Monday, June 2 2014 GAME WARDENS, acting on a tip-off, went to a makeshift pet shop in Pleasantville on Saturday and rescued a quantity of endangered exotic birds representing five different species which under TT laws are protected animals. In total, 50 birds were taken away after being found crammed in four metal cages and one cardboard box. The birds, some still chicks, and most in a poor state of health, were taken to the Mon Repos Police Station. Among the birds were three baby macaws. A male suspect was also arrested. The Wardens recoiled in horror at seeing 41 brown throated parakeets squeezed like sardines into one cage. That cage reeked of urine and faeces which coated the feathers of the birds. A 37-year-old technician of Blitz Village, Pleasantville is expected to appear before a San Fernando magistrate today to answer to 50 counts of being in unlawful possession of protected animals. The birds are said to be valued at $30,000. For having in your possession a protected animal, the maximum fine is a paltry $200. According to police sources, at about 8.30 am on Saturday, Game Warden II Steve Seepersad, Ag Game Warden II Stanley Maraj along with honorary Game Wardens Darius Baldeo, Andrew Boyce, Anthony Edwards, Ricardo Lewis, Indar Ramnath and Krishendath Goolcharan executed a search warrant at a house in Blitz Village, Pleasantville. During a search, the Game Wardens discovered four cages and one cardboard box containing a total of 50 protected birds. Another cage had two baby green-winged macaws. In the cardboard box there was a baby scarlet macaw. Another cage contained five peach faced conure birds and in another cage there was one yellow shouldered parrot. Newsday was told that the green winged macaws which are not indigenous to Trinidad can fetch a price of $2,500 each. A baby macaw also fetches the same price. The birds, Newsday learnt are believed to have being imported illegally from Venezuela. Police sources yesterday lamented that if government is really serious about protecting the country’s rich and diverse flora and fauna from poachers and black market vendors, legislation must be amended to increase court ordered fines. “One bird sells for two to four thousand dollars, while the court fine is a mere $200. We have seen persons charged leave the courts laughing after paying that fine. You can’t say you are serious about protecting the environment when that is the kind of punishment available,” a police source said.
Posted on: Mon, 02 Jun 2014 15:12:43 +0000
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