Person selling live Flamingo in cruel manner could face heavy fine, jail

The Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission is probing a case where a live flamingo was strung upside down and put up for sale at the Port Mourant market in Berbice.

All species of Flamingos are listed in the appendix of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which species that are in need of protection and are considered to be threatened and likely to become endangered if the trade isn’t regulated.

According to the Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission, flamingos are referred to in law and the capture and sale of it, is regulated.

One needs permission in order to do so.

In any case, the permission does not allow for the sale of birds in this manner.

Section 69 (1) of the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Act states that every person who has possession or control of, or offers of exposes for sale any specimen to which the Act relates commits an offence.

In harmony with the Wildlife Conservation Management and Sustainable Use Regulations, the manner shown in the video that went viral on Facebook amounts to cruelty and could attract a fine of $400,000-$750,000 and up to six months imprisonment.

The Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission is seeking to determine who was selling the Flamingo and whether they had permission to do so.