The fox Run Run, sold as if it were a dog, highlights a still unsolved problem in Peru: the illegal sale of animals.
The Andean fox Run Run, sold as if it were a purebred dog, highlights a still unsolved problem in Peru: the illegal sale of animals.
Run Run is an Andean fox, traded and sold as if it were a Siberian Husky by one of the many unscrupulous vendors in central Lima, the Peruvian capital, who illegally trade domestic and wild animals in daylight. Most of the time these animals are kept in terrifying conditions, placed in bags, backpacks, pockets or in small spaces as if nothing had happened.
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The story of Run Run
In Peru, the trafficking and sale of animals is a very common problem, just think of the history of this fox. Going to the Lima Center with the intention of buying a pet, Maribel Sotelo's teenage son, convinced that he was a Siberian husky, ended up taking Run Run home for about 10 euros. Here is the question "Why buy it, if you can adopt it?" gains more strength. (READ also: Crocodile meat is about to end up on our tables, green light from the Ministry of Health)
Being a puppy, the deception went unnoticed. But one day, after a storm, Run Run got scared and ran away from home. All attempts to capture it were in vain, the fox, now about eight months old, walked on the roofs of the houses and, in search of food, began to hunt the neighbors' hens, chickens and ducks. Only later did they realize that it was not a dog.
My son wanted a pet and went downtown to buy a dog. They gave him a wolfhound, but he didn't know it was a fox. When he grew up and wanted to bite us, my husband realized he was a fox. Also because of the smell of the feces ”, explained Maribel.
In our country there are more than 300 species threatened by illegal wildlife trafficking. Every year more than 5.000 specimens are seized due to illegal activities, which put Peru's biodiversity at risk. #Runrun pic.twitter.com/2plKzpz7s3
— Marian (@MARIANALBAG) November 9, 2021
Animal trafficking in Peru
Although there are no penalties for the sale of pets in Peru, abuse of animals kept in poor condition - such as in a bag, backpack or cardboard box - under the Animal Maltreatment Act provides for a punishment of up to 3 years in prison, which can be up to 5 years in the event of death. As for wild animals, sale, purchase, transfer and storage without a valid permit or certificate are sanctioned. The penalty ranges from 3 to 5 years of imprisonment.
Peru has a very rich biodiversity, unfortunately not very protected and the penalties described above prove it. Between 2000 and 2018 alone, Serfor seized more than 80.000 live wild animals. the great demand that these species have and the inertia of the authorities, unfortunately, encourage the illegal trade in these animals. In fact, in the center of Lima purchases and sales are made in the light of day with the tolerance of the police and the agents of the Municipality, and this phenomenon is also repeated in other cities of the country.
A project to curb the illegal sale of animals
©Serfor Peru
The story of the fox Run Run has rekindled the light on a serious problem still unsolved in Peru: the illegal sale of animals. However, there is an opportunity to change things. The bill 196/2021 - still in the approval phase - presented by the parliamentarian Edward Málaga, lights up a small hope by proposing to include crimes against natural resources, such as the illegal trafficking of wild animals, among the crimes carried out by organized crime.
With this change to the law, people who illegally traffick animals can be investigated, tried and criminally sanctioned in the manner of organized crime. Furthermore, this bill is beneficial to the authorities, as it provides legal tools to legal practitioners for greater efficiency in their criminal investigations, prosecutions and sanctions, as well as as a deterrent to the protection of natural resources, especially biodiversity and its storage.
? #RunRun2 Roll "What does Run Run want?" What do you think? What would be the best? ?While I was sketching this strip I almost…
Posted by Nu Naranjas on Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Memes and social videos on Run Run have depopulated, becoming trendy in Peru. After several days of trying, last Monday, the staff of the National Forestry and Wildlife Service - SERFOR captured the poor fox and transferred it to a zoo in Lima. Deprived of her freedom, the laughter and jokes begin to disappear. As with thousands of species of all kinds in Peru, Run Run will unfortunately no longer be able to return to its natural habitat.
'Run Run,' a fox which was originally bought as a dog by a Peruvian family, was relocated to a zoo in Lima pic.twitter.com/1k7qBHL3tW
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 10, 2021
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