Wild meat (e.g. agouti, tatoo, wild hog, lappe, deer) is valuable in Trinidad and Tobago. At present the cost of some species (e.g. wild hog) is over $100 per pound. These high prices provide an incentive for illegal hunters and commercial hunters to harvest as many of these animals as possible for sale. Such hunting is clearly for financial reward and not for recreation.

This commercialization of wildlife is a death knell to these animals, because as with any commodity, as the animals become scarcer the price of the meat goes up. This increase in price creates a greater incentive for commercial hunters to hunt these animals, and further reduces the size of the game population. This is what biologists call an extinction vortex. Eventually the animals involved in such commercial trade become extinct.

Such a scenario is not hypothetical, but has happened the world over with unrestrained hunting of commercially important wildlife. Classic examples include the Passenger-pigeon and Heath-hen in the United States. Closer to home, in Trinidad and Tobago, this scenario has already been played out with most of the seed-finches (e.g. the bullfinch which now costs between $4,000-$8,000), which are already so rare that they are virtually ecologically extinct.

One way to prevent our game mammals from descending further into this commercially-fuelled extinction vortex, is to remove the financial incentive to hunt them. Such an approach is not novel as such bans on the commercial trade in wild game have been in places like the US since the last century. Hence, we are calling for a ban on the commercial sale of wild-meat in Trinidad and Tobago.

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The cost of performing this mission is entirely financed by the operation of theworld famous eco-lodge situated at the 7½mm on the Arima-Blanchisseuse Road. The continued feasibility of this hotel operation and the livelihood of all the persons dependent upon it, directly or indirectly, but also the health of all living things in the valley, are now threatened by the continued expansion of the quarry operated by National Quarries Limited (NQL) lower down the Arima Valley.

The main concern is the loss of biodiversity and watershed management and the other ecological services provided by forests under threat. We must also concern ourselves with the adverse impact of the huge scar left by the quarry operations on the natural beauty of the valley, the centre's stock in trade.

The deforestation of the steep slopes of the Arima valley and the noise from the detonation of explosives undoubtedly have negative impacts on wildlife and the ecosystem of the area generally.

And come next year, if tertiary institutions are not accredited by the Accreditation Council of Trini­dad and Tobago, funding will be stopped.

Those are some of the recommendations included in the report by the task force on the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) programme, which was handed over to Education Minister Anthony Garcia last week.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160716/news/students-should-pay-gate

Emperor Valley Zoo - Zoo or Animal Graveyard? I have not been to the zoo for years and was expecting to see huge roaring lions, playful monkeys, dears and all the other unusual animals. As I wondered around the zoo, I got more than what I expected, the adrenalin rushed to my head my heart started pounding and my body became frigid with shock, not did I only get to meet the animals but their valley of death. These animals are not only kept there for the viewing pleasure of the public, but also to be tortured, mistreated, harmed, abused and neglected! My eyes were suddenly filled with tears, trying to picture myself in these poor animals places, and it hurts, just thinking about it. The animals just like every other human being has feelings too. It makes you question, why have a zoo, why have zookeepers, why display pain to the public and most important of all why have a Minister of Environmental issues. Does any of this make sense? Does our country only consist of people? All those that are part of the Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago should walk with their heads down in shame, because they have to be mentally sick to have the heart to ill-treat animals. You would have to be a HATER!

I have visited several countries and it's so nice to see how wholesome their environment is, almost makes you want to stay, and then I begin to think about driving through the streets of our islands as I am then escorted by stray dogs, dead dogs, vagrants and much more. Oh how proud I am of my country and my government. A government is put in place to take charge of the country and I do believe that it includes caring for all environmental matters and a lot of this begins at the zoo. The government thinks that they are making the every attempt to get rid of crime, but they themselves along with those that are involved with the environment department fail to realize that they are criminals too! They are individuals that do not see animal cruelty as a problem.

There should be animal cruelty laws, are there? If you look at the channel 39 on cable (Animal Planet), there is a program especially dedicated to deal with animal brutality, they literally arrest and press charges against people who can’t look out for animals. They take the animals away from them and carry them to an animal hospital, where they are treated with care and then carried away to homes where they can be loved.

Can you actually tell me you go to the zoo and enjoy looking at sick animals? I have seen with my own eyes animals that are meant to live an aquatic life, live without water and if there is water, it looks like it hasn’t been cleaned for months, since the moss seems to enjoy it more than the animals. It took me five minutes to find the dears, which were all cuddled up in a corner of their water-less den lying on the not so freshly cut grass looking as though they were on the verge of death. As for the three lions or maybe just two with one looking like a corpse, at least that is what it looked like, were trapped with an already eaten, but rottening bone. So very few lions we have, wonder if these strong, as they are known to be, creatures have the strength to even mate. Yes, it’s that bad, unbelievable but true. The visitors of the zoo on the other hand and the zookeepers I must add, had to enjoy a great deal of the foul smell, coming from the monkey’s cages. From what I gathered, this zoo will eventually be an “Animal’s Cemetery” Animals need to be nurtured, meaning to take care of, for those that don’t know. I just had to give the meaning of that word, because a lot of us really do not know.

This is not only a letter of complaint, but a plead to please fill these animal’s bowls with water, cut the grass, give them a need to run around in their dens, swim in their ponds, feed them, clean their homes, this has been their homes for quite some time, shower them love and attention, give them life and a chance to create a life. I would also like everyone to know that I am not stopping here; I am going to continue pleading until all this comes to a stop, by gathering those that are willing to help fight against this terrible situation, by addressing the Minister of Environment and others associated and I urge you to do your part to bring this to an end.

Fighting Against Animal Cruelty,
AM.

Many stray dogs can be seen dead on highways and the sides of roads. In rural areas, they are a threat to livestock, the source of income for farmers. Certain parts of Trinidad and Tobago, particularly beaches, have become dumping grounds for puppies and unwanted dogs. For these and a host of other reasons, something must be done to reduce the number of strays in Trinidad and Tobago.

The 1918 Dogs Act (http://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/Laws2/Alphabetical_List/lawspdfs/67.54.pdf) and Section 79 of the Summary of Offences (http://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/Laws2/Alphabetical_List/lawspdfs/11.02.pdf) are the only pieces of legislation regarding the welfare of stray dogs.

There is a need for improved legislation, greater involvement by the government, more animal shelters/facilities to house stray dogs throughout the country (not only in urban areas), and greater responsibility on the part of dog owners to ensure that their animal companions are not free to roam the streets.

Firstly there are no statistical records kept here pertaining to dog bites/attacks. Secondly they have listed only 3 breeds of dogs.

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Pittbull terrier or any breed from a pittbull terrier, Fila Brasileiro or any breed from a Fila Brasileiro (there are hardly any of these dogs here). Japanese Tosa or any breed from a Japanese Tosa. (There are hardly any of these dogs here).

To own one of the above there will be an insurance of 250,000.00 per dog, plus an annual licensing fee of 500.00 plus the dog has to be spayed or neutered.