HTS News 4orce St. Lucia's #1 News Team
The Forestry Department is in receipt of a very disturbing video, circulated on social media, showing at least five Saint Lucia boas or Tete Chien being killed by members of the public. In the video the boas were bludgeoned to death with a stick.
Additionally, a large rock was hurled at the animals to ensure their death. This extreme cruelty to wildlife is unacceptable and constitutes a major offence under the Saint Lucia Wildlife Protection Act, chapter 6.03, of 1980 revised in 2001. The Saint Lucia boa is listed as “Protected Wildlife” under schedule one of the Wildlife Act.
The Forestry Department therefore states that it categorically condemns such irresponsible and indiscriminate killing of our protected and endemic wildlife and will in no way condone such illegal acts perpetrated by members of the public.
The Forestry Department will therefore seek all legal avenues to ensure that the perpetrators of such wildlife crime receive the maximum penalty for their illegal actions.
According to the Wildlife Act, Part 4, Section 14 (a) states: “Except by authority of a license or permit issued under section 10, a person commits an offence who hunts or takes any protected wildlife or the eggs, fry or young thereof;”. Similarly, Section 16 (d) states:” A person commits an offence who for the purpose of killing or capturing any protected or partially protected wildlife, using any live animal or any decoy or appliance whatsoever;”.
The Forestry Department is collaborating with the police on the matter and with their assistance an immediate arrest will be effected and charges will be laid against the perpetrators of this horrific and disturbing wildlife crime. The Forestry Department is seeking the maximum penalty, as per the Wildlife Act, of $5000.00 per animal killed or imprisonment or both.
The Forestry Department is also aware that in some communities Boas are being hunted,
stewed and sold as a delicacy. This too is an offence against the Wildlife Act, and anyone
