As part of the celebration of World Earth Day, eight specimens of wildlife returned to their natural home in the south and north of the department of Huila.
Among these, three mammals and five birds were released after receiving medical and biological care from experts from the Alto Magdalena Regional Autonomous Corporation (CAM).
The release process was carried out in carefully selected natural reserves in different areas of Huila.. Among the animals released were a red deer, a raccoon, a boruga and five impressive birds of prey, such as the road hawk, the gray hawk and three warbler owls.
The CAM veterinarian, Edward Suárez, explained that These animals were rescued by the CAM and the Environmental Police after receiving reports from the community about risk situations. For example, the raccoon was discovered to be a victim of illegal possession, kept as a pet in a house in southern Huila. Likewise, the red deer, an adult female, was being chased by hunting dogs until it was rescued by compassionate farmers who alerted the CAM.
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Another notable case was that of the boruga, which had been removed from its natural habitat with the intention of being slaughtered and sold illegally as bushmeat. After their rescue, these animals were transferred to the Pitalito and Neiva Wildlife Passage Homes, where they received medical, nutritional and biological care.
Suárez also highlighted that some of the specimens arrived in the chick stage, so they needed assisted feeding and evaluation of their flight and landing capacity before being released.
The CAM took advantage of the occasion to remind the Huilense community that the main threats to wildlife include forest clearing, forest fires, attacks by domestic cats and dogs, as well as illegal possession as pets. The population was urged to report any case of risk or threat involving wild animals and the importance of letting these species live in their natural habitat and not as pets in homes was reiterated.
Finally, the CAM called for citizen awareness, remembering that the extraction, commercialization and illegal possession of wildlife constitute environmental crimes that can lead to economic and criminal sanctions.
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