The Cabildo of Lanzarote, through the Hunting Department, has announced the continuation of the temporary closure of hunting activities in the northern part of the island following the confirmation of a new episode of wildlife poisoning in the municipality of Haría.
Discovery of Poisoned Birds
The warning was raised by hunting guards, who alerted environmental agents from the Cabildo to the discovery of at least four dead Canary ravens (Corvus corax canariensis) in the area. This species is classified as endangered. After notifying the Government of the Canary Islands, the regional executive has recommended extending the temporary hunting ban in Haría beyond the initially set deadline of 3 September.
Response Protocols Activated
Protocols from the Canary Vigilance Network and the Canary Islands Strategy against the Illegal Use of Poison have been reactivated to facilitate the transfer of samples and remains for analysis.
Statements from Officials
Samuel Martín, Councillor for Environment and Hunting at the Cabildo of Lanzarote, stated, “With this suggestion from the Canary executive following the discovery in an area where other poisonings have occurred, it would be reckless to reopen, as there is no guarantee of safety for the animals or for the hunters themselves.”
Martín has communicated this decision to both the Lanzarote Hunters’ Society and the Haría Town Hall, reminding them that if validated by the competent authority, the temporary closure will be offset by an extension of the hunting ban in the northern area to avoid impacts on the hunting community.
Call for Public Cooperation
The councillor has emphasised the “irresponsibility of authorising a reopening while suspecting that indiscriminate poisoning persists in Haría,” and has appealed to the public for cooperation in clarifying the events and identifying the presumed perpetrator(s).
Current Hunting Activities
Meanwhile, as agreed in the last meeting of the Island Hunting Council, hunting activities continue normally across the rest of the island, while fieldwork and intensive monitoring in the north are ongoing.
Official Communication
In the past few hours, the Cabildo of Lanzarote informed the Hunters’ Society and the Haría Town Hall of the maintenance of preventive measures through the following statement:
“In light of the new poisoning cases detected in the same area as previous incidents in Haría, and following the recommendations received from the Government of the Canary Islands, the temporary closure of hunting activities in the municipality will remain in effect.
Subsequently, once safety is guaranteed and the ban is lifted, an extraordinary Island Hunting Council will be convened to assess the possibility of extending hunting days.”
