In the last few hours, a specimen of Leopardus guttulus (Tiríka) was successfully released into its natural habitat after fully recovering at the ITAIPU Wild Animal Research Center (CIASI), located in Hernandarias. This is a specimen that was received on March 10, a victim of illegal trafficking, from the Yukyry company, department of Caaguazú.
The Ministry of the Environment reported that the animal arrived practically immobile due to an injury, specifically a dislocated vertebra at the cervical level.
“From then on, intensive medical-veterinary treatment was started and it had a satisfactory evolution,” said Santiago Molina, a veterinary doctor at CIASI
The professional pointed out that later sand began the rehabilitation of the animal, so that it does not imprint, technical name applied when an animal gets used to people.
Photo: Ministry of the Environment.
“Today after all these months, the animal is ready to be released back into the wild,” he said satisfied.
Officials from the Wildlife Directorate of MADES accompanied the procedure after issuing the Guide for the Transfer of Wild Animals at the request of the Department of Environmental Law of the Binational, which directly supported the work carried out by professionals from CIASI.
Photo: Ministry of the Environment.
Tirika, common name assigning to 3 species of wild cats that are distributed in the national territory: Leopardus geoffroyi, widely distributed in the western region; Leopardus guttulus and Leopardus wiedii, both distributed in the eastern region and categorized as ENDANGERED SPECIES by MADES Resolution No. 632/17; habitat loss and deforestation being the main threats to these species, as well as illegal hunting for fur trafficking and petting.
Photo: Ministry of the Environment.
It is worth mentioning the conservation efforts carried out in the CIASI in order to contribute to the protection and conservation of the native wild fauna of Paraguay with the support of the Wildlife Directorate as the enforcement authority of the Law No. 96/92 on Wildlife.
In this sense, they urge the population to contribute to the fight for conservation through the denunciation of illegal acts that threaten the development of the life of wildlife.
