More than two million wild animals have been killed in fierce forest fires which for weeks have plagued Bolivia. Including numerous mountain lions, jaguars and llamas.
It was stated by a number of experts in the environment and wildlife to the AFP news agency on Wednesday night local time.
the Flames have destroyed large forest and grassland in the region of Chiquitania in eastern Bolivia, which is characterized by tropical savannahs.
– We have consulted biologists in the Chiquitania, and we estimate that more than 2.3 million animals are missing in several protected areas, says professor Sandra Quiroga from the university of Santa Cruz.
Among the victims of the devastating forest fires is among other things, jaguars, cougars and ocelots, which is a common feline in South and central America, as well as sheep and llamas.
in Addition, the are also many smaller animals have been hit by the deadly flames, inform the biologists who are investigating the extent of brandenes destruction.
Including anteaters, badgers, lizards, tapirs, and various types of rodents.
the Fires have destroyed more than four million acres since august. Among other things, a 100 hectares of woodland in the Tucavaca reserve, in the eastern part of Santa Cruz.
the Forest is completely charred, and the damage is irreparable. It will never be able to be normal again, says Sandra Quiroga.
Bolivia is divided into nine so-called departments, of which Santa Cruz is the largest and also the, that has been hardest hit by the fires, which began in may, and really took hold in august.
In august, the inmates, the authorities in Bolivia special brandfly, helicopters, and 5,000 firefighters, soldiers and police officers in the fight against the flames. But forest fires are still not under control.
environmental activists are criticizing a series of laws, which was adopted during the left-wing president Evo Morales, who called for the burning of the forest and rural areas, in order to create more space for agriculture.
Bolivia’s government believes that the dry and windy weather is the cause of the fires.
