The New Hunting Society of Lanzarote has warned this Monday of the discovery of up to 33 points of poison on a farm in Las Quemadas, in the municipality of Tinajo. The group notified Seprona and the Environmental Agents of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, who, according to what has been confirmed by the Civil Guard, are the ones who have taken charge of the investigation. The society emphasizes the "danger" of these poisons, whose use they emphasize is "illegal".
The Hunting Society has explained that it received a call from an individual warning that he had detected small red and brown spheres that could be poison and also told them that there were "dead animals in the area". Their guards took photographs of these spheres and notified Seprona and the Environmental Agents of the Cabildo. The latter took samples of the alleged poison and are now carrying out an investigation.
As a result of this event, the hunters' group has sent a statement in which it emphasizes that "the use of poisoned baits in the natural environment is one of the most harmful practices for ecosystems in general and for certain species of threatened fauna in particular." "This circumstance justifies the adoption of measures aimed at eradicating this practice, prohibited by Law 42/2007, on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity" developed by the Government of the Canary Islands, they emphasize.
"Environmental and public health damages"
That legislation includes the "need to inform about the damages of the use of poison", the association points out, which explains that they can be "from environmental damages, for the damages that the use of poison can cause in populations of species not only game but protected and of high ecological value, such as public health damages, caused by the ingestion by human beings of animals that have previously consumed these poisons".
"It is also our job to inform about the criminal responsibilities and/or administrative sanctions that may be incurred," they add. Thus, the Hunting Society states that the fines for the illegal use of poison in the non-rural environment can reach 9,000 euros. In addition, "it could even be a crime typified in article 325 of the new Penal Code," they emphasize.
Likewise, from the Hunting Society they point out that, as far as the Hunting regulations are concerned, the law also refers to the use of poisons associated with hunting activity, "constituting a serious infraction of article 49.18", they explain. Thus, the crime of "hunting using poisons, without being legally authorized" is also included in the Penal Code.
"Trying to raise awareness of this problem through environmental education work goes hand in hand with preventing its use. To this end, the insertion of advertisements in the main media should be promoted on the damages to fauna from the use of poisons and on the classification of this activity as a crime. The dissemination in the media of the work of the agents of the authority in the investigation and interception of the use of poisons and, above all, of the cases in which a person is charged for these acts, hunting grounds are closed, etc. is essential due to the deterrent effect it has on future offenders and above all in the fight against the feeling of impunity of poisoners," they add from the Society.
The Hunting Society of Lanzarote signed an Environmental Collaboration Agreement with the Cabildo in April 2015. Under this agreement, the group participates in the "control work through the application of the action protocols" included in the order of the Government of the Canary Islands that develops the law of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity.
