Scarlet Ibis Slaughter, again.
Molly R. Gaskin, President, PaPWildfowltrust. Sunday 10th March 2019, Trinidad Guardian, “Scarlet Ibis being killed freely in Felicity sometimes by the dozens, daily”.
How many times, year after year must I call for this slaughter to stop! Again, ad nauseam, I repeat, a National Disgrace! This is our National Bird that we are hunting, slaughtering, selling, and eating! Have we no pride at all in ourselves, in our Country! Have we no pride in what we as a People are supposed to stand for!
For years the PaPWildfowl Trust has appealed for help for the Forestry/Wildlife Division, for more properly armed Game Wardens to patrol more
frequently in undisclosed sequences and so be better able to catch these killers when they are netting, shooting or travelling out of the swamp with these illicitly caught or killed birds. Instead we have this abomination. At the moment, there are but a handful of good Game Wardens to protect the entire Country they need more help.
To make matters worse these killers & criminals boast about it to reporters. No shame!
Are there “Eyes in the sky”? If so, where are they? Are they being used effectively?
The Caroni Wetlands, including Felicity, main breeding grounds for our National Bird, the Scarlet Ibis, was made a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1953; a” Protected Area” under the Forest Act in 1987. A RAMSAR site, an international convention and protected by the Government of Trinidad & Tobago, in 2005. And yet, this wanton slaughter continues! When is this going to stop? We call upon the authorities. Do something more NOW.
Stop the slaughter of our National Bird, the Scarlet Ibis.