Cancun, Q.R. — Environmental officials in Cancun released a protected bird that was found being held inside a private home. The great curassow was released in a natural area of Cancun Monday after being rescued by authorities.
Cancun environmental officials became aware of the captive bird after a citizen complaint. Personnel from the Ecology Department confirmed the report at a private home in SM 75.
Fernando Haro, the Cancun Director of Ecology, said once a report of wildlife in the urban area is received, these types of cases are handled immediately.
According to Haro, the bird was located in a home in SM 75 and was removed since it is a species protected by the Official Standard 059 of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
He explained that the procedure involved securing the bird and turning it over to the appropriate authority.
“We secure the animal and turn it over to the appropriate authority, which in this case is Profepa (Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection),” he said.
Haro said possession of these types of birds is restricted as they are not species intended for commercialization or domestic keeping.
“They are not species for possession or for any type of sale,” he said adding that his Cancun department handles between seven and 10 similar reports a day. He explained that a majority of citizen complaints related to the capture of wild or exotic animals are mostly for birds and snakes.
Once a report has been made and the animal seized, they are relocated to protected natural areas within the municipality, such as parks or ecological reserves.
