News
330 birds in suspicious Suriname cargo handed over to importer until probe concludes
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
Customs media spokesman Seevali Arukkgoda told the Sunday Times that a shipment of the 330 birds that arrived following an earlier shipment of exotic birds was prevented from being released due to lack of documents and permits, but was held under the custody of animal quarantine and was allowed ‘safe custody’ at the premises of the importer.
“We have not released the birds to the importer, we are only keeping the birds at his premises due to space issues, and we cannot send the animals to the zoo as disease could spread from the birds to zoo animals,” he said.
The birds imported from Suriname reached Mattala airport on December 30, but as there were no facilities and space at animal quarantine under the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH), Department of National Zoological Gardens and also Mattala airport, the birds were handed over to the ‘safe custody’ of the importer under an agreement.
The importer had believed that he could clear a second batch of imported birds using documents filed earlier, he said.
Mr Arukgoda said there are issues in the documents and the birds have not been released until investigations are done. Twenty birds have perished, he said. The Sunday times learned that more than 40 birds had died on arrival.
Mr Arukgoda also said according to law, any person until proven guilty is deemed a suspect. The importer was allowed to complete the documents that had not been not filed.
However, Samanatha Gunasekera, the founder of the Customs’ Biodiversity Protection Unit, and its former head, told the Sunday Times the customs has provisions to seize prohibited, or restricted items.
According to section 43 of the Customs Ordinance if any goods enumerated in the table of prohibitions and restrictions in Schedule F shall be imported or brought into Sri Lanka contrary to the prohibitions and restrictions contained in such table in respect thereof, such goods shall be forfeited, and shall be destroyed or disposed of as the Director General of Customs may direct.
In this case, the birds are restricted under section 37 of Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.
He said the Department of Zoological Gardens has a farm at Gonapola, where imported animals are quarantined. The importer had a history of importing birds for his private zoo and is well aware of the process.
He added that a part of an earlier shipment cannot be released without a new customs declaration.
He suspects Suriname as the origin of the birds, notorious for bird and animal smuggling from the Amazon rainforest.
“There are high chances of these birds carrying pathogens if they are wild caught, therefore allowing the birds into the country and allowing the importer to hold them at close proximity to a number of bird sanctuaries and bird areas could threaten native and migrant wild populations,” he added
Mr Gunasekara had emailed the Director General of Customs on Friday, December, 29, 2023 informing him of the live bird shipment.
The email read: “There will be an illegal live bird shipment arriving tomorrow 30. 12. 2023 to Maththala airport. Pl take urgent action to stop this illegal activity.’’
A follow up email, too, was sent to the DG by Mr Gunasekara on Friday January 5.
It read: “It is a regret to inform you that, since my information was delivered to you on 29th December 2023 no satisfactory action has been taken so far. But some unethical and wrong actions of some high-ranking officers who were under the obligations of the illegal importer can be seen. I hope you will take impartial, proper actions without further delay Pl.”
Meanwhile, Ranjan Marasinghe the director general of the National Zoological Gardens, said that they cannot quarantine animals from a third party as the Gonapola farm is set up to quarantine sick animals owned by state zoos and animals acquired by the state zoos trough animal exchange programmes between foreign zoos.
However, if facilities and cages are available at Gonapola, imported birds can be quarantined if the Department of Animal Production and Health takes custody and makes an official quarantine request.
The Director General of Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) Chandana Sooriyabandara said that customs has not yet informed them of the imports and asked if permits and documentation are supported by the DWC.
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