Don’t kill wild animals

During times of extreme weather that cause floods or forest fires, wild animals may make their way onto your property.

The Wildlife and Environmental Protection of Trinidad and Tobago (WEPTT) is begging citizens not to kill these animals but to leave them alone and, eventually, the animals would leave on their own.

Kristopher Rattansingh, one of the directors of WEPTT said just as fires and floods disrupt our homes, so too, they disrupt the homes of animals. He said it was their natural instinct to get to safety and survive so they did not mean any harm and they did not want to be in your home.

He said the local wildlife had increasing contact with humans over the years as deforestation, pollution and urbanisation continued to affect the local environment. He said during floods, displaced animals such as snakes, opossums (manicou), caimans, large birds, river otters and capybaras could be seen around homes.

Forest or bush fires, he said, could drive birds searching for new roosting areas out into the open and cause snakes and rodents to cross residential paths while fleeing to find new homes. WEPTT has also rescued silky anteaters that ended up in people’s homes trying to get away from fires.

Rattansingh said, during the recent floods, the organisation had a case where a cascabel snake got into a house, crawled up furniture and onto a curtain rod for safety. Another time, a caiman entered a house and could not get out. In both cases, residents of the house called the WEPTT to remove the animals.

Rattansingh said the animals wanted to get away from humans and, in most cases, the animals left on their own accord. He said, fortunately, many people had patience, left the animals alone and allowed them to leave in their own time. He added, however, that he had seen videos where animals had been killed.

“I understand where people react in fear, especially, when they don’t understand. Which is why we push forward in trying to educate everyone and attempt to stop the needless loss of life. These animals are all a vital part of our biodiversity and environment. They each have a role to play.”

“I would also like to remind everyone that any animal in danger or cornered will defend itself. In a person’s attempt to kill the animal they can end up getting extremely hurt in the process which is why it’s that much more important to give the animal it’s space, let it leave or let an expert assist, do not try to do it yourself.”

He said the animals would be able to find new homes once the flood waters subsided and the environment returned to normal. He said, if it was absolutely necessary and the animals were distressed or injured or posed a direct threat to human life, they would be rescued. They would then be examined, rehabilitated, if necessary, and then released. “If an area is not suitable for release due to disaster or is residential, they are relocated nearby in natural habitat but similar to that from which they came, allowing adjustment to be easy on the animal.”

In a recent release, WEPTT advised people who encountered animals to:

* Leave it alone – Do not approach the animal because a cornered animal will defend itself. Take a picture if possible so we can identify the animal accurately.

* Call WEPTT at 341-9983 so we can properly identify the animal and advise you what you can do or if expert assistance is required.

* Do not try to move the animal or get close to it without first identifying the animal with an expert and finding out if its possible and safe to do. They also guide and assist you in contacting officers of the Wildlife Section.

* Most importantly, do not kill the animal. It does not want to be in your home as much as you do not want it to be there. Not only is killing the animal unnecessary, chances are, it is against the law since the animals are prudent to a sustainable bio-diverse environment that is already disturbed by the floods.

WEPTT’s drive to educate the public focussed on the social media platform and can be accessed at “WEPoTT” on Facebook and “WEPTT” on YouTube.

Rattansingh said,“We contribute to education through the use of educational videos and albums documenting all aspects of wildlife allowing people to see what we have locally and how they, too, can identify the species and learn that they have no reason to react in haste and fear so they can respect the animals.”

He added that the non-profit NGO had an amazing volunteer base whose enthusiasm for change kept the organisation going.