The People-Animals-Nature Party (PAN) has issued a statement stating that it “deeply regrets the death of the lynx ‘Bores’, an animal, whose life was marked by several mistakes that culminated in a tragic outcome.”
“From the illegal domestication of a wild animal to the measures that were adopted for its seizure and subsequent return process using sedation, there were significant failures that need to be rigorously investigated by the competent authorities, through the promotion of the Public Prosecutor’s Office,” defends the PAN. However, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has been roasted by the Animal Ombudsman who has said that the whole case was poorly constructed: the family brought an animal illegally to the Region without any hindrance for six years and the MP acted without competence in the matter and with insensitivity. Action by the Institute of Forests is also criticized.
To ensure transparency and fairness, PAN will request the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN) to seize the lynx’s body for an autopsy. In addition, the party will request access to the accompanying report and report so that all responsibilities are properly ascertained.
Adding to this, the ADN – National Democratic Alternative Party hopes that this scenario will not be repeated, stating:
“We have to be aware that the Veterinary Services, as well as the IFCN, are not provided with the means or qualified human resources to deal with this type of situation, as we have seen. It is evidence that failures on all sides culminated in the unnecessary death of an animal.”
Defending their stance, a veterinarian added:
“The process only demonstrates the fragility that exists in the control of animals at the entrance to Madeira. There must be close inspection at airports, in ports by Veterinarians, who are technically qualified for this purpose. I do blame my fellow Veterinarian who has been conniving with this illegal situation over the past years and knows they have a duty as a citizen and health care professional not just to the animal but to the entire community.”
The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment, in a statement, said that, in relation to the desert lynx that died, the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN) agreed that an autopsy would be carried out, stressing that they never intended this outcome.” This would suggest, that people are asking if Bores’s death was more by design than accident.
In addition, the IFCN informs that it has several animals in its custody, namely, seven snakes, a lizard, among others, “of different origins, such as abandonment, seizure and collection in urban areas, as determined by the legal framework in force.”
The GNR has confirmed that on the 20th of July at around 21: 49 they received from the defendant’s forensic representatives, by electronic communication, a report from the veterinarian, attesting that “for the well-being and safety of the animal, the owners should remain as its faithful custodians.”
Finally, the IFCN calls for “collaboration and understanding” for compliance with regional, national, and international legislation aimed at the conservation and protection of species, namely the Convention for the Prevention of Trafficking in and Trade in Wild Species (CITES). In other words, don’t blame us for this cock-up!
One other question remains. What ‘other’ animals are being kept by the IFCN, and why didn’t they list them? One lizard, seven snakes, and …………
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com