The carcasses of nine Scarlet Ibis birds were found during an exercise in Felicity on Sunday.
Members of the Central Game Warden Unit attached to the Forestry Division – Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) in collaboration with the Southern Division Task Force of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) executed a search warrant in the Cacandee Road, Felicity area, following surveillance and information gathered.
This exercise, which was supervised by Game Warden II Richard Ramlogan, including Game Warden I’s Nalini Khemraj, Vimal Arjun and Tariq Rasool, took place on Sunday and led to the finding of what appeared to be the carcasses of nine (9) Scarlet Ibis in three (3) plastic bags. Presently, one (1) person has been arrested and investigations are ongoing.
The Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Senator Kazim Hosein commended the efforts of the Game Wardens under the leadership of the Chief Game Warden and Conservator of Forests, Mr. Denny Dipchansingh saying, “I want to applaud the efforts of our Game Wardens along with the TTPS and other personnel for this arrest as it sends a strong message to poachers and persons who commit these infractions. Our National Bird, the Scarlet Ibis, is listed as an Environmentally Sensitive Species and is offered the highest level of wildlife protection in our country. Poaching of the Scarlet Ibis is a serious wildlife offence and offenders must feel the full brunt of the law and learn to respect wildlife legislation.”
Members of the public are reminded that the illegal poaching of our National Bird and other Environmentally Sensitive Species (ESS) are criminal offenses and carries a fine of $100,000 and two (2) years imprisonment.