Posted: Sunday, August 07, 2016. 10:55 p.m. CST.
By Aaron Humes: The Forest Department has issued a warning to the public and restauranteurs not to buy or consume game meat at this time, following multiple reports and complaints received of illegal hunting and killing of wildlife in the Belize River Valley Area as a result of the flooding situation.
In a statement, the Department says residents of the area have complained about “numerous cases of game violations within a relatively short period of time,” particularly indiscriminate hunting of wildlife stranded in highland areas.
The hunters are targeting deer, white lipped peccaries, gibnut and other game species but the statement does not say how they are being removed and sold or otherwise disposed of.
The Department states that such indiscriminate hunting can threaten entire ecosystems, local communities and people’s livelihoods. It has dispatched a team of Forestry personnel to patrol and work with at risk communities to address any violations of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Reports of any violations may be addressed to the Forest Department at 822-2079 or at wildlife.manager@forest.gov.
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