As Saint Lucia celebrates Creole Heritage Month, the Forestry Department is reminding the public of its legal responsibility to protect the island’s unique wildlife, including endangered and endemic species.
Officials have reiterated that under the Wildlife Protection Act, it is illegal to hunt, capture, or sell protected and partially protected animals.
Opossum (commonly known as the manicou). (Photo Credit: Ministry of Agriculture)
The Forestry Department highlighted that fully protected species such as the agouti, opossum (commonly known as the manicou), the Saint Lucia iguana, and the boa constrictor are strictly off-limits for hunting. These animals are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act due to their ecological importance and vulnerability to population decline.
Agouti (Photo Credit: Ministry of Agriculture)
“The law is clear,” the department emphasised, referencing Section 17 (e) of the Act, which states that any individual who “exposes or offers for sale or purchase any protected wildlife or any part of such wildlife or the eggs, fry, or young thereof without a valid permit” is committing an offence.
Boa constrictor (Photo Credit: Ministry of Agriculture)
In addition to hunting restrictions, the Forestry Department is urging the public to refrain from purchasing or consuming wildlife products during the festive season, warning that such actions contribute to the illegal wildlife trade and threaten Saint Lucia’s biodiversity.
Violators of the act face serious penalties. Under Section 4, anyone found guilty of an offence is subject to a fine of up to $5 000 and/or imprisonment for a term of up to 12 months.
The Forestry Department is calling on citizens to celebrate Creole Heritage Month responsibly by helping to safeguard Saint Lucia’s natural heritage and protecting its endemic species for future generations.
Any third-party or user posts, comments, replies, and third-party entries published on the St. Lucia Times website (https://stluciatimes.com) in no way convey the thoughts, sentiments or intents of St. Lucia Times, the author of any said article or post, the website, or the business. St. Lucia Times is not responsible or liable for, and does not endorse, any comments or replies posted by users and third parties, and especially the content therein and whether it is accurate.
St. Lucia Times reserves the right to remove, screen, edit, or reinstate content posted by third parties on this website or any other online platform owned by St. Lucia Times (this includes the said user posts, comments, replies, and third-party entries) at our sole discretion for any reason or no reason, and without notice to you, or any user. For example, we may remove a comment or reply if we believe it violates any part of the St. Lucia Criminal Code, particularly section 313 which pertains to the offence of Libel. Except as required by law, we have no obligation to retain or provide you with copies of any content you as a user may post, or any other post or reply made by any third-party on this website or any other online platform owned by St. Lucia Times. All third-parties and users agree that this is a public forum, and we do not guarantee any confidentiality with respect to any content you as a user may post, or any other post or reply made by any third-party on this website. Any posts made and information disclosed by you is at your own risk.
