Colombia and Ecuador Strengthen Legal and Veterinary Measures Against Wildlife Trafficking

In Cali, Colombia, authorities launched the "Ruta de Atención a los Delitos contra la Biodiversidad," a coordinated process that brings together the Fiscalía, the judiciary, police, the CTI, environmental agencies and NGOs such as the Wildlife Conservation Society and Fundación Panthera. The route defines the competencies of each entity to accelerate investigations, prosecutions and sanctions for illegal wildlife trade, which the UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimates generates US$23 billion annually.

In Ecuador, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, through the Galápagos National Park Directorate, repatriated ten marine iguanas rescued from an illegal trafficking operation involving three Thai nationals. The animals underwent veterinary care, quarantine, genetic testing by the Universidad San Francisco de Quito and continuous monitoring before being released back into the Galápagos archipelago. The case underscores the integration of judicial actions and technical protocols to protect the country’s unique biodiversity.