A Belgian was arrested at Lima airport while carrying 20 live birds in his suitcase. He wanted to sell them in Spain, announced the National Forest and Wildlife Service (Serfor).
Hugo Conings, 54, was arrested on Monday at the airport in the Peruvian capital when the authorities discovered small cases hidden in his suitcase. The animals were locked in them. The birds showed signs of stress and dehydration, some even losing some of their plumage, according to an environmental police officer.
Stressed and dehydrated
Among the birds were two toucanets and fifteen tangaras, whose bright colors attract traffickers and collectors, according to Serfor. Their habitat is the Amazon rainforest of Peru, but they are also found in Ecuador and Bolivia. According to Peruvian law, trafficking in wild animals is punishable by five years in prison.
According to Interpol, the illegal wildlife trade accounts for approximately $ 23 billion worldwide. It is one of the main causes of biodiversity loss. Peru is considered a paradise for bird watchers, with 1,810 species of birds identified.
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