Endangered wildcat, other animals found in pickup were dehydrated

Sep 05, 2014 News

One day after authorities found a woman transporting an “endangered” wildcat along the trails, there are indications that it was in bad shape.
In addition to being in illegal possession of the animals, the woman, Shonette Thakurdeen, is likely to be charged with the “inhumane treatment” of other animals and aspects related to the conditions of the wildlife being transported.

Macaws cramped during their long journey in the pickup.

Giving an update yesterday, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made it clear that the hunting and trade of protected species is illegal.
EPA said it responded to a report received from Iwokrama of a Toyota 4×4 pickup loaded with several wildlife species including a protected species – a young puma (Felis Concolar), being transported to Georgetown.
On Wednesday, Thakurdeen presented a Veterinary Health Export Certificate signed by a Plant Health Inspector, dated 2nd September indicating 30 red and green macaws, a tapir, a capybara and a cat were examined on request of a Colin Thakurdeen. The certificate further stated that the animals were deemed to be in good health and to be ‘shipped’ (transported) to an exporter based in Georgetown.
A team from the EPA met Thakurdeen along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and identified the cat as a puma instead of a jaguar as was originally identified on the Veterinary Health Export Certificate. The pickup along with EPA officials and a police escort, took the woman to the Brickdam Police Station where a statement was taken from Thakurdeen.
The puma was handed over to the Guyana Zoo.

One of the wounded animals.

According to the EPA, an assessment by Dr. Nardeo Basdeo found that the animal was housed in a small, wooden crate for the journey from South Rupununi to the Zoological Park.
“The young puma was deemed highly dehydrated and extremely weak. He was subsequently removed from the filthy crate and rehydrated using saline solution. A shot of penicillin was then administered. The animal was then transferred to a larger clean crate and observed for a short period until he sufficiently calmed down enough to be safely assessed further.”
The zoo officials also examined the remaining animals which were also found to be extremely dehydrated with a number of open wounds and other injuries.
“The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment through the EPA takes this opportunity to highlight that all species of wildcats in Guyana are deemed ‘protected’. Under the Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations (2013) protected species are listed under the First Schedule and protected means ‘in relation to wildlife, collecting, holding in captivity, hunting, killing or otherwise molesting are prohibited’.”