WAYS OF DEALING WITH WILD FAUNA IN PERU

Our country is considered as the first country with the bigger biodiversity in the world. Due to different International Commerce Treaties signed up, we’ve got the opportunity to reach top positions in the Global Market; in fact, we have to give an added value to our natural resources. In this opportunity, I’ll approach in a not very explored market which is the export of wild fauna, using the different ways of handling of wild species that our country has.

But, what’s handling of wild fauna? , it´s the science and art of manipulate the characteristics and interactions of habitats and the population of wild species with the purpose of satisfy human necessities, ensuring its preservation  and sustainable use.

For preserving and using sustainably of the wild fauna there´re some modalities: Nurseries, zoos, rescue centres, Temporary Custody Centres and Spaces of handling of wild fauna.

At this point, I think is important to define the concepts of Nurseries and Zoos with the purpose of understand and know these activities. The nurseries are buildings designed for keeping and reproduce the wild fauna (The ones which are not included in the Appendice I of the “CITES” and the rest of species which are in danger of extinction) with commercial purposes and production of goods and services. Specimens reproduced in captivity belong to nurseries.

Peru has nurseries of birds of prey, macaws, reptiles, peccaries, and butterflies. Zoos are buildings for keeping and reproduction of wild fauna species with the purpose of cultural dissemination, education and investigation. The most important of those zoos are the “Parque de las Leyendas” and the “Parque Zoológico de Huachipa”.

In this context, I´d like to deepen in a subject that is increasing along the time: The export of taxidermy specimens of wild fauna; in the list there´re butterflies, beetles and tarantulas. The most exported species are butterflies (Groups of Nynphalidae, Papilonidae, Riodinidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Uriniidae) and spiders (Theraphosidae).

Those species are exported in a stuffed way, but in the specific case of butterflies, these are exported in pupas whose use is for ceremonies in marriages, engagements, etc.

In the same way, we´ve got different ways for exporting those species, for instance, in dishes, trays, cups, decorative pictures, torches, notebooks, jewelries, etc. decorated with a part of butterflies. The countries which buy more of it are Taiwan, Japan, Spain, Germany, China, Czech Republic, Chile, Venezuela and the USA.