Portugal’s League for the Protection of Nature (LPN) today announced that it has been asked to assist in criminal proceedings related to the poisoning of an Iberian lynx in March and called for the end of the illegal use of poisons.
"Faced with repeated cases of poisoning resulting in the death of protected and endangered species, the LPN calls for firm action from the public and from the government in the fight against the illegal use of poisons," read today’s statement.
The LPN recalls that for too many years, cases of illegal or negligent use of poisons have resulted in many fatalities of endangered species protected by law.
"Invariably, these situations are repeated without finding out who is responsible, perpetuating impunity and the lack of effective solutions to combat this threat to the conservation of nature," commented the LPN.
The use of poison to kill wild and domestic animals "is illegal," says the LPN, and represents "a serious threat" both to public health and to biodiversity.
After the death of several protected animals such as eagles, vultures and the female Iberian lynx which was poisoned in March this year, the LPN agreed to assist in criminal proceedings in the case of the lynx and to "cooperate with the prosecution in the investigation."
The organisation advocates "more and better action" in cases associated with the illegal use of poison, as well as greater involvement and coordination between the different bodies involved.
The female Iberian lynx, Kayakweru, was released into the wild in February but was found dead in mid-March in Mértola.
The results of an autopsy undertaken at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon revealed that the animal ingested poison and died as a result.
