On the Trail - Robin des Bois

It feeds off of worms and insects. Between shamanism
and hoaxes, rumours and tall tales, supposed
alternative medicine doctors and specialists of the
occult take advantage of gullible clients to whom
they prescribe mixtures using blood, organs, flesh
or scales of protected animals. Indian press reminds
readers that the Sand boa, just as other snake species,
are part of these false panaceas. Some are taken
away from the wild to enter the large panel of
new pets for humans.
© Yomaira Grandett / El Tiempo
Eryx johnii © Ankit Vyas
Seizure of a boa constrictor (Boa constrictor, Appendix
II) and 2 Central American agoutis (Dasyprocta
punctata, Appendix III in Honduras)
Rionegro, Santander Department, Columbia
18 th September 2013
The suspects did not put up any resistance. Their
neighbours are the ones who denounced them. A
non-identifiable species of deer was also part of the
seizure. Many deer are threatened with extinction
in particular the North Andean deer (Hippocamelus
antisensis, Appendix I).
Seizure of an anaconda
Cartagena, Department of Bolívar, Colombia
September 2013
What a surprise for a mother who received a
strange parcel in the post. In the wooden box with
Mazda car spare part written on it, she discovered
a « small » snake measuring 1.50 m in length. Her
son had ordered it for a mascot on the internet.
He paid nearly US$ 260. The woman, distraught,
immediately notified the authorities to come and
pick up the anaconda. An anaconda can reach 9 m
in length and weigh up to 120 kg. According to the
Director of the Environmental Police, smuggling of
exotic species via the internet is booming. He recalled
that a few weeks ago, an ocelot, which was also
purchased on the internet, was found wandering
the streets of Cartagena.
Seizure of 2 live Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus,
Appendix II)
Brookhaven, State of New York, United States of
America
September 2013
The local animal control officer was hiding 850
snakes of which 2 were pythons in his garage. In the
state of New York a licence is required to own pythons.
Along with the snakes were some tarantulas.
The Brookhaven officer has 4 weeks to find a legal
home for his boarders. The neighbours are worried.
« The garage was a temporary transit station». « My
plan is to open a business ».
Seizure of 2 alcohol bottles, one containing a
cobra and one a scorpion
Basel, Basel-City Canton, Switzerland
September 2013
Scorpion Gin and Cobra Vodka were the aperitifs
that a French citizen was attempting to import into
Switzerland. The 2 bottles were seized at the Basel/
St Louis motorway customs station. The trafficker in
venomous spirits had to pay a fine of several hundred
Swiss francs. According to the Swiss customs
authorities, trade in the 2 species concerned is
subject to the Convention on Trade in Endangered
Species.
© Keystone
17 On The Trail # 2. Robin des Bois