[www.inewsguyana.com] – A joint operation to curb illegal hunting and fishing has been successful with the nabbing of three hunters and the confiscation of wild meat during a river patrol at Burro – Burro.
The joint operation was conducted by Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment’s Environmental Protection Agency, Iwokrama, the Fisheries Department and the Guyana Police Force on December 12 at the mouth of the Burro-Burro River, Iwokrama Rainforest Conservation.
The team’s objective was to observe any fishing and hunting activity and to investigate and ascertain if it was commercial. Upon investigating, a small aluminum boat was discovered on the right bank of the Burro Burro River with a small generator powering a small freezer.
According to the Natural Resources Minister, further investigation revealed a significant quantity of wild meat in the freezer with evidence of powis being cleaned (plucked/gutted) in the immediately vicinity.
The team subsequently detained three individuals and discovered several rounds of ammunition which one of the individual was apparently attempting to hide.
The police rank informed the three (3) young men that they were hunting illegally for which they would be charged and were accompanied to Kurupukari Police Outpost. The team made an inventory of all seized assets and stored appropriately.
Approximately thirteen 13 labbas (~170lbs) and six (6) powis (~30lbs) were found to be in the confiscated freezer.
According to the Ministry, it will continue to collaborate with the various agencies to continue similar operations to protect endangered animals and indigenous communities that depend on hunting for a livelihood.
Only last Thursday, the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud submitted to the National Assembly the Wildlife Import and Export Bill of 2013 to be enforced by the Wildlife Management Authority and signed the Wild Management and Conservation Regulation of 2013 to be enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency.
