Technicians from the Association of Veterinarians Avafes Canarias and the Toxicology and Analysis Service of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) traveled to Lanzarote this Monday to co-organize with the Cabildo of Lanzarote a working day aimed at reporting on the 'Canary Strategy against poison', in order to prevent the death of protected wild animals and safeguard the biodiversity of the archipelago.
Lanzarote has joined the objectives of this Strategy, through the Environment Service of the Cabildo led by Councilor Marcos Bergaz, together with the AVAFES association, the ULPGC and the collaboration of Tragsa, with the dissemination of information material and the celebration of this working day that took place from early morning with a training workshop aimed at technicians from public administrations, professionals and competent authority agents (inspectors, environmental agents, local police, civil guard and Seprona) and personnel interested in this problem. This day was completed with an informative talk that took place in the afternoon for professionals, farmers, ranchers, animal associations, veterinarians, hunters and the general public.
The Councilor for the Environment of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Marcos Bergaz, thanked the Association of Veterinarians of the Canary Islands and the Toxicology Service of the University of Las Palmas for their presence and work in the islands, specifically in Lanzarote, as well as the attendance of all professionals in the primary sector, veterinarians, administration technicians, environmental agents, and representatives of animal associations and others interested in participating in these workshops and talks in order to "disseminate and share the actions and action protocols that are necessary to know for the reduction of this illegal, cruel and anachronistic practice of using poison that unfortunately still occurs in some areas".
More than 7,000 animals died in Spain from poisoned baits
The Strategy for the eradication of the illegal use of poison in the non-urban natural environment of the Canary Islands, published in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands on April 9, 2014, is a framework document that regulates information, training, prevention or surveillance actions and establishes action and coordination protocols between the competent administrations.
Between 2000 and 2010, more than 7,000 protected wild animals died due to poisoned baits in Spain. "It is impossible to determine the total number of species that die victims of poison, although it is estimated that only between 8% and 10% are found, collected and analyzed correctly," they say from this campaign.
Taking this into account, Bergaz emphasized "the public denunciation to the competent authorities (Civil Guard, Seprona, Local Police or Environmental Agents) of these illegal practices that endanger our biodiversity and that also constitute a real risk for pets".
The councilor also recalled that "if we find an animal or bait presumably poisoned, it should not be touched." It is advisable to "take photographs and immediately notify an Environmental Agent or Seprona through 112".
77% of the baits analyzed in the Canary Islands had highly toxic substances
Since 2011, the Toxicology Service of the ULPGC has analyzed more than 650 samples from animals and baits presumably poisoned found in the Canary Islands, of which 77% have been positive for highly toxic substances.
The Toxicology Service of the ULPGC is the reference laboratory in the Canary Islands in charge of the study and analysis of poisoned baits and/or animals. Its operation and coordination with all the islands is essential for the detection of the substances used in the manufacture of baits, many of them illegal.
On the other hand, AVAFES Canarias is an association of veterinarians that develops various lines of action against the illegal use of poison. In 2013 AVAFES Canarias joined the ANTÍDOTO Program, a platform of organizations at the national level that work against this practice.
