Group Joins Sen. Melinda Romero Donnelly in an Outcry Against Permit Granted to Bioculture Puerto Rico, Inc.
For Immediate Release:May 31, 2011
Contact:Robbyn Brooks 202-483-7382
San Juan, Puerto Rico — Today, PETA fired off an urgent letter to the Puerto Rico Department of Justice calling for a full investigation into an apparently illegal monkey import and export permit granted by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (DRNA) to Bioculture Puerto Rico, Inc.—even though it would be illegal for Bioculture to operate in the city where the company is being built. PETA's complaint follows a similar request from Sen. Melinda Romero Donnelly, who states that the DRNA has no legal authority to grant Bioculture a permit to import animals and that the agency has ignored Bioculture's blatant and repeated violations of laws and regulations.
"The DRNA's full embrace of Bioculture is as troubling as it is meaningless," says PETA's Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Kathy Guillermo. "No permit could allow Bioculture to follow through with its plans—to tear monkeys away from their homes in the wild, breed them, and sell their babies for use in experiments—because all these shameful acts are illegal in Guayama."
Bioculture hopes to capture more than 4,000 monkeys from Mauritius, confine them to cages at the company's planned Guayama facility, and sell their offspring to U.S. and foreign laboratories for use in painful and deadly experiments. But last year, the Guayama government unanimously adopted municipal ordinances No. 9 and 11, Series 2010–2011, which explicitly ban the import, export, breeding, and use of monkeys in experiments within its territorial boundaries.
In addition, in November 2009, the Puerto Rico Senate Environmental Committee found that Bioculture's facility was improperly built on land that was not zoned for the business's purposes. PETA's challenge of the permit stopped construction. In March 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined Bioculture thousands of dollars for violating the federal Clean Water Act. In October 2010, the Puerto Rico Senate approved R.S. 1514 to "[e]xpress the most forceful objection" to Bioculture's plans and to request that the U.S. government deny "any and all permit request by Bioculture Mauritius … with the purpose of importing Macaca fascicularis into Puerto Rico."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
Showing posts with label puerto rico. Show all posts
Showing posts with label puerto rico. Show all posts
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Friday, August 20, 2010
Monkey farm nixed again at Guayama hearing (via Sally Tully-Figueroa)
August 17, 2010
The committee which opposes establishing a farm to breed monkeys in Guayama objected Monday to Senate Bill 1628 that seeks to legalize the raising of these animals on the island.
Community leader Roberto Brito reported that hundreds of residents from Pueblito del Carmen in Guayama showed up at the Guayama Convention Center, where the Federal Affairs Committee heard testimony on the measure that “would allow the breeding of wild monkeys for the sole purpose of scientific experimentation.”
The committee’s operations were supervised by Sen. Melinda Romero, of the New Progressive Party, Popular Democratic Party Sens. Juan Hernández Mayoral and Eder Ortíz.
The panel comprised Brito, Dr. Eduardo Ibarra (president of the Health Rights Foundation) and municipal legislators Angel Sanabria ,of the PDP and Rey Catalino of the NPP, among others.
“We are against this bill, because if it is approved it will allow the breeding of monkeys, serpents, crocodiles, lions, and all kinds of exotic animals,” said Brito.
The community leader indicated that the Bio Culture company “wants to open its doors here in our town and is trying to intimidate us by filing a million dollar lawsuit, but that doesn’t scare me because I know it is a
pressure tactic.”
In the meantime, Ibarra, medical adviser for the committee in Guayama, said “there is a movement afoot [in the world] to eliminate the use of animals for experimentation purposes. [Such a movement] favors not
breeding these animals in Puerto Rico, as the Senate is proposing.
“Recently a scientific congress in Europe unanimously approved the elimination of experimenting on animals for medical or cosmetic purposes. Therefore, we understand that the Puerto Rican government should not make an alliance with a company from Israel involved in this unethical practice.”
Municipal legislators Sanabria and Catalino agreed that if a catastrophe like a hurricane occurred in Guayama, as many as 17,000 monkeys could escape.
Brito indicated “this bill sent to the Senate of Puerto Rico by the “Fortaleza is a sly way to approve a measure that would overthrow all the rules and regulations that would prevent people from raising monkeys in P.R.”
He said the Senate should “not promote a measure to please a special interest group of people from Israel while creating a negative effect on Puerto Rico.”
http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Monkey-farm-nixed-again-at-Guayama-hearing
The committee which opposes establishing a farm to breed monkeys in Guayama objected Monday to Senate Bill 1628 that seeks to legalize the raising of these animals on the island.
Community leader Roberto Brito reported that hundreds of residents from Pueblito del Carmen in Guayama showed up at the Guayama Convention Center, where the Federal Affairs Committee heard testimony on the measure that “would allow the breeding of wild monkeys for the sole purpose of scientific experimentation.”
The committee’s operations were supervised by Sen. Melinda Romero, of the New Progressive Party, Popular Democratic Party Sens. Juan Hernández Mayoral and Eder Ortíz.
The panel comprised Brito, Dr. Eduardo Ibarra (president of the Health Rights Foundation) and municipal legislators Angel Sanabria ,of the PDP and Rey Catalino of the NPP, among others.
“We are against this bill, because if it is approved it will allow the breeding of monkeys, serpents, crocodiles, lions, and all kinds of exotic animals,” said Brito.
The community leader indicated that the Bio Culture company “wants to open its doors here in our town and is trying to intimidate us by filing a million dollar lawsuit, but that doesn’t scare me because I know it is a
pressure tactic.”
In the meantime, Ibarra, medical adviser for the committee in Guayama, said “there is a movement afoot [in the world] to eliminate the use of animals for experimentation purposes. [Such a movement] favors not
breeding these animals in Puerto Rico, as the Senate is proposing.
“Recently a scientific congress in Europe unanimously approved the elimination of experimenting on animals for medical or cosmetic purposes. Therefore, we understand that the Puerto Rican government should not make an alliance with a company from Israel involved in this unethical practice.”
Municipal legislators Sanabria and Catalino agreed that if a catastrophe like a hurricane occurred in Guayama, as many as 17,000 monkeys could escape.
Brito indicated “this bill sent to the Senate of Puerto Rico by the “Fortaleza is a sly way to approve a measure that would overthrow all the rules and regulations that would prevent people from raising monkeys in P.R.”
He said the Senate should “not promote a measure to please a special interest group of people from Israel while creating a negative effect on Puerto Rico.”
http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Monkey-farm-nixed-again-at-Guayama-hearing
Sunday, August 8, 2010
UNPLEASANT PUERTO RICAN GOAT STORY
In a scene conjuring images of “The Godfather,” a disemboweled goat was found dead Friday, a rope around its neck, on the front lawn of a controversial Rehoboth town official.The goat was first spotted about 5:30 a.m. by a neighbor walking by Chris Morra’s Summer Street home. About 90 minutes later, another neighbor also saw it and called him.“I’m not putting up with it. I’m not being intimidated,” Morra said yesterday. “It’s a shame they would harm an innocent animal.”--
full story:http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20100808official_not_intimidated_by_goat_corpse_says_unhappy_residents_targeting_him/
full story:http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20100808official_not_intimidated_by_goat_corpse_says_unhappy_residents_targeting_him/
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Dog who survived Barceloneta massacre dies
Dog who survived Barceloneta massacre dies
June 25, 2010
by Peggy Ann Bliss
The last survivor of the animal massacre of Barceloneta has died and will be honored tonight. Yoli, the mixed breed dog who almost three years ago miraculously outlived almost 90 other cats and dogs ordered killed by the
town mayor, breathed her last June 19, according to her protector Maritza Rodríguez.
“She did it without my permission, but I forgive her for the intense love that I have and always will have for her,” said Rodríguez in an e-mail message to all animal lovers. The message was addressed to “all who shared and in any way carried the message and raised the cry of alert so that justice could be done.”
On October 8 and 10, 2007, police made two raids, seizing some 90 pets from their owners at three public housing projects, causing widespread anger.
Residents say many of the animals were later thrown off the 50-foot Indian Bridge in Vega Alta, just outside of town. Many of the decaying bodies were later found, but a few managed to escape.The news traveled around the world, causing outrage among animal advocates.
Mayor Sol Luis Fontanes allegedly ordered the raids after instituting a no-pet policy at the projects. Nevertheless, it was discovered later that no such rules existed. Forty five residents filed a $22.5 million federal
lawsuit on Friday against the town, the Public Housing Administration, the owner of an animal control company and several others. The suit claims the pets were beaten, drugged and thrown to their deaths.
Rodríguez said she was so overcome by emotion that she could not inform the community of the death or the dog that spent her last years with her. “I thank everyone for all the words of compassion and encouragement, for
which I am eternally grateful,” said Rodríguez, who has rescued hundreds of mistreated and abandoned cats and dogs.
As for Yoli, “I called her “My little Queen,”(Mi Reinecita) she said. Everyone who knew her personally knew that she loved life and loved to be around people. She was so sociable and affectionate. “Yoli was a symbol
of strength and she belongs to the people of Puerto Rico. I know she would like us to say good bye to her as she deserves, The service is for people who understand and who struggle daily to improve the quality of life and justice for our animals.
The service will be held tonight at 6 at Unity Church in Santurce, 1955
Victoria Street.
http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Dog-who-survived-Barceloneta-massacre-dies
__._,_.___
June 25, 2010
by Peggy Ann Bliss
The last survivor of the animal massacre of Barceloneta has died and will be honored tonight. Yoli, the mixed breed dog who almost three years ago miraculously outlived almost 90 other cats and dogs ordered killed by the
town mayor, breathed her last June 19, according to her protector Maritza Rodríguez.
“She did it without my permission, but I forgive her for the intense love that I have and always will have for her,” said Rodríguez in an e-mail message to all animal lovers. The message was addressed to “all who shared and in any way carried the message and raised the cry of alert so that justice could be done.”
On October 8 and 10, 2007, police made two raids, seizing some 90 pets from their owners at three public housing projects, causing widespread anger.
Residents say many of the animals were later thrown off the 50-foot Indian Bridge in Vega Alta, just outside of town. Many of the decaying bodies were later found, but a few managed to escape.The news traveled around the world, causing outrage among animal advocates.
Mayor Sol Luis Fontanes allegedly ordered the raids after instituting a no-pet policy at the projects. Nevertheless, it was discovered later that no such rules existed. Forty five residents filed a $22.5 million federal
lawsuit on Friday against the town, the Public Housing Administration, the owner of an animal control company and several others. The suit claims the pets were beaten, drugged and thrown to their deaths.
Rodríguez said she was so overcome by emotion that she could not inform the community of the death or the dog that spent her last years with her. “I thank everyone for all the words of compassion and encouragement, for
which I am eternally grateful,” said Rodríguez, who has rescued hundreds of mistreated and abandoned cats and dogs.
As for Yoli, “I called her “My little Queen,”(Mi Reinecita) she said. Everyone who knew her personally knew that she loved life and loved to be around people. She was so sociable and affectionate. “Yoli was a symbol
of strength and she belongs to the people of Puerto Rico. I know she would like us to say good bye to her as she deserves, The service is for people who understand and who struggle daily to improve the quality of life and justice for our animals.
The service will be held tonight at 6 at Unity Church in Santurce, 1955
Victoria Street.
http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Dog-who-survived-Barceloneta-massacre-dies
__._,_.___
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
P.R. Manatee Conservation Center partners with world’s largest aquarium
The Puerto Rico Manatee Conservation Center, directed by the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, joined efforts with the Georgia Aquarium through a partnership agreement that aims to promote the conservation and preservation of marine species.
The partnership will feature the mutual support from the entities in developing new projects and expanding current ones, particularly efforts that promote the development of the P.R. Manatee Conservation Center, that works for the conservation of manatees through scientific investigations, rescue missions, rehabilitation and community outreach projects.
“We have worked with the vice-president of the Aquarium, Dr. Bossart, who’s been in charge of veterinary medicine, since 1990. He has actively participated in our manatee mortality research since that time by reading
us the pathology of dying manatees in Puerto Rico. This led into developing a partnership between our university and the aquarium to continue working together,” stated Antonio Mignucci, head of the PRMCC.
The Georgia Aquarium, located in Atlanta, is the world's largest aquarium with more than 8.1 million gallons of both salt and fresh water, housing more than 100,000 animals of 500 different species. Chief veterinary officer for the Aquarium, Dr. Gregory Bossart, will serve as adjunct professor of the Center, as well as a consulting veterinarian, providing support to the institution’s veterinarians. In exchange, Mignucci will serve as adjunct researcher of the Aquarium.
As Mignucci explained, this partnership will help develop exchanges between the staff of the Center and the Aquarium, as well as offering students, volunteers and technicians the chance to go to the aquarium for training and internships.
“The Georgia Aquarium is highly regarded and has a tremendous expertise in animal care, water quality and veterinary medicine. This provides us with the knowledge that will helps us get a better Center and help the manatees more effectively,” added Mignucci.
Meanwhile, the formal facilities for the P.R. Manatee Conservation Center will presumably begin construction in July, on the campus of the Inter American University in Bayamón, with an investment of about $700,000. The
project includes laboratories for scientific research, food supply resources and veterinary care for manatees in captivity and /or rehabilitation. It will also includes a multipurpose room to receive and guide students from schools and universities so they can see at first-hand the research, rehabilitation and conservation efforts of manatees that the CCMPR features.
"Once completed, the Center will continue to conduct manatee rescue and rehabilitation work authorized under permits from the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as carrying out other research, conservation and community outreach initiatives. Beginning in August, the Center will also house two Florida manatees, that will serve as surrogate parents to Puerto Rican manatee calves rescued in the island," said Mignucci.
The P.R. Manatee Conservation Center also has a cooperative agreement with the Puerto Rico National Guard for the support of manatee liberations by providing a space for a seapen in Punta Salinas, in Toa Baja. In addition, the Center also has an agreement with the Omacha Foundation in Colombia to provide advice on manatee rehabilitation care.
http://www.prdailysun.com/news/PR-Manatee-Conservation-Center-partners-with-worlds-largest-aquarium
The partnership will feature the mutual support from the entities in developing new projects and expanding current ones, particularly efforts that promote the development of the P.R. Manatee Conservation Center, that works for the conservation of manatees through scientific investigations, rescue missions, rehabilitation and community outreach projects.
“We have worked with the vice-president of the Aquarium, Dr. Bossart, who’s been in charge of veterinary medicine, since 1990. He has actively participated in our manatee mortality research since that time by reading
us the pathology of dying manatees in Puerto Rico. This led into developing a partnership between our university and the aquarium to continue working together,” stated Antonio Mignucci, head of the PRMCC.
The Georgia Aquarium, located in Atlanta, is the world's largest aquarium with more than 8.1 million gallons of both salt and fresh water, housing more than 100,000 animals of 500 different species. Chief veterinary officer for the Aquarium, Dr. Gregory Bossart, will serve as adjunct professor of the Center, as well as a consulting veterinarian, providing support to the institution’s veterinarians. In exchange, Mignucci will serve as adjunct researcher of the Aquarium.
As Mignucci explained, this partnership will help develop exchanges between the staff of the Center and the Aquarium, as well as offering students, volunteers and technicians the chance to go to the aquarium for training and internships.
“The Georgia Aquarium is highly regarded and has a tremendous expertise in animal care, water quality and veterinary medicine. This provides us with the knowledge that will helps us get a better Center and help the manatees more effectively,” added Mignucci.
Meanwhile, the formal facilities for the P.R. Manatee Conservation Center will presumably begin construction in July, on the campus of the Inter American University in Bayamón, with an investment of about $700,000. The
project includes laboratories for scientific research, food supply resources and veterinary care for manatees in captivity and /or rehabilitation. It will also includes a multipurpose room to receive and guide students from schools and universities so they can see at first-hand the research, rehabilitation and conservation efforts of manatees that the CCMPR features.
"Once completed, the Center will continue to conduct manatee rescue and rehabilitation work authorized under permits from the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as carrying out other research, conservation and community outreach initiatives. Beginning in August, the Center will also house two Florida manatees, that will serve as surrogate parents to Puerto Rican manatee calves rescued in the island," said Mignucci.
The P.R. Manatee Conservation Center also has a cooperative agreement with the Puerto Rico National Guard for the support of manatee liberations by providing a space for a seapen in Punta Salinas, in Toa Baja. In addition, the Center also has an agreement with the Omacha Foundation in Colombia to provide advice on manatee rehabilitation care.
http://www.prdailysun.com/news/PR-Manatee-Conservation-Center-partners-with-worlds-largest-aquarium
Thursday, June 18, 2009
PUERTO RICAN PARROT RECOVERY PLAN
The second revision of the recovery plan for the Puerto Rican parrot, one of the most endangered birds in the world, is ready for public review, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) said Wednesday.
FWS Regional Director Sam D. Hamilton said the updated plan would continue to focus on captive breeding of the endangered parrots for release into the wild..
“We continue working with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), the U.S. Forest Service and the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust to increase the captive and wild populations of this majestic species,” Hamilton said in a statement.
Work to save the species dates back to 1968 but a formalized Puerto Rican parrot recovery plan was not implemented until 1987. The second revision of that plan specifically details the recovery goals that should be met to reclassify them from a major risk to a minor risk under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, the FWS official said.
The revised plan also outlines the estimated timeframe and costs of carrying out the recovery efforts.
The current wild population is estimated at fewer than five dozen – between 22 and 28 in El Yunque and another 22 to 28 in the Río Abajo State Forest in Arecibo. Fewer than 300 are in captivity in two breeding facilities near El Yunque and Río Abajo.
There were an estimated 1 million Puerto Rican parrots when Christopher Columbus reached the island 500 years ago. By the 1950s, however, the number had dwindled to just 200 or so, due to poisoning from insecticides on crops, predation by exotic species and loss of habitat.
The effort to breed the birds at a Luquillo aviary to boost the El Yunque wild population was dealt a heavy blow in 1989 when Hurricane Hugo churned across northeastern Puerto Rico and decimated the rainforest, killing half of the parrot population.
The DNER got involved in the recovery program in 1993, and established a new captive population in the Río Abajo area. The first of those aviary-bred birds were released into the wild in 2006.
http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=31843&ct_id=1
FWS Regional Director Sam D. Hamilton said the updated plan would continue to focus on captive breeding of the endangered parrots for release into the wild..
“We continue working with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), the U.S. Forest Service and the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust to increase the captive and wild populations of this majestic species,” Hamilton said in a statement.
Work to save the species dates back to 1968 but a formalized Puerto Rican parrot recovery plan was not implemented until 1987. The second revision of that plan specifically details the recovery goals that should be met to reclassify them from a major risk to a minor risk under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, the FWS official said.
The revised plan also outlines the estimated timeframe and costs of carrying out the recovery efforts.
The current wild population is estimated at fewer than five dozen – between 22 and 28 in El Yunque and another 22 to 28 in the Río Abajo State Forest in Arecibo. Fewer than 300 are in captivity in two breeding facilities near El Yunque and Río Abajo.
There were an estimated 1 million Puerto Rican parrots when Christopher Columbus reached the island 500 years ago. By the 1950s, however, the number had dwindled to just 200 or so, due to poisoning from insecticides on crops, predation by exotic species and loss of habitat.
The effort to breed the birds at a Luquillo aviary to boost the El Yunque wild population was dealt a heavy blow in 1989 when Hurricane Hugo churned across northeastern Puerto Rico and decimated the rainforest, killing half of the parrot population.
The DNER got involved in the recovery program in 1993, and established a new captive population in the Río Abajo area. The first of those aviary-bred birds were released into the wild in 2006.
http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=31843&ct_id=1
Caiman spends night in police holding cell
A caiman - smaller cousins of the crocodile - spent the night at a Police Department precinct house after being captured Monday in Toa Baja.
The five-foot long reptile was snagged by personnel from the State Emergency Management Agency near the La Virgencita Bridge in the San José sector of Toa Baja on Monday night.
The caiman was then kept in a holding cell at the Toa Baja precinct house for nearly eight hours before it was picked up for processing by personnel from the Natural and Environmental Resources Department (DNER for its English initials)..
“There was no place to put it and since the bars are narrow we put it in the holding cell so it wouldn’t escape,” said Police Department spokeswoman Beatriz González.
The DNER took the captured caiman to its wildlife shelter in the Cambalache State Forest in Arecibo, according to police.
Caimans are not native to Puerto Rico but have been spotted in an increasingly wide area of the island. The crocodile-like caimans, from South America, were apparently exotic pets that were released into the wild in the 1960s, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and have been multiplying ever since.
They are often spurred out of rivers and swamplands like the Tortuguero Lagoon in Vega Baja by heavy rains and in recent years have been captured in pastureland and even the patios of homes along the north coast area from Arecibo to Toa Baja.
http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr..com/news03.php?nt_id=31787&ct_id=1&ct_name=1
The five-foot long reptile was snagged by personnel from the State Emergency Management Agency near the La Virgencita Bridge in the San José sector of Toa Baja on Monday night.
The caiman was then kept in a holding cell at the Toa Baja precinct house for nearly eight hours before it was picked up for processing by personnel from the Natural and Environmental Resources Department (DNER for its English initials)..
“There was no place to put it and since the bars are narrow we put it in the holding cell so it wouldn’t escape,” said Police Department spokeswoman Beatriz González.
The DNER took the captured caiman to its wildlife shelter in the Cambalache State Forest in Arecibo, according to police.
Caimans are not native to Puerto Rico but have been spotted in an increasingly wide area of the island. The crocodile-like caimans, from South America, were apparently exotic pets that were released into the wild in the 1960s, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and have been multiplying ever since.
They are often spurred out of rivers and swamplands like the Tortuguero Lagoon in Vega Baja by heavy rains and in recent years have been captured in pastureland and even the patios of homes along the north coast area from Arecibo to Toa Baja.
http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr..com/news03.php?nt_id=31787&ct_id=1&ct_name=1
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