Costa Rica poised to ban hunting as sport
An environmentalist wearing a frog mask is seen near members of Congress (rear) who are voting on an anti-hunting law inside the Legislative Assembly building in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The country’s name in English means “Rich Coast” and it looks as though law makers in Costa Rica want to keep it that way. Reuters is reporting that the nation famous for its lush rainforests and remarkable wildlife is poised to become the first country in all of Latin America to ban hunting as a sport, after its Congress provisionally approved reforms to its Wildlife Conservation Law. Jaguars, pumas and sea turtles are among the country’s most exotic and treasured species, and are often hunted or stolen as trophies. The ban would not apply to hunting by some indigenous groups for survival, or to scientific research.
“Lawmakers voting on the ban voted 41 in favor and five against, and a second vote expected in the coming week is widely seen ratifying changes to the law, which aims to protect animals in one of the world’s most biodiverse countries.
Costa Rica’s national parks attract some 300,000 visitors annually, and tourism is a mainstay of the economy.”
A commendable measure to be sure but I suppose you have to wonder exactly how wildlife officers in Costa Rica will distinguish between sport hunting and “legitimate” (non-sport) hunting. Couldn’t sport hunters simply say they are using the animal for some purpose? Still, it’s a step in the right direction – hard to believe in this day and age that anyone would want to kill another creature just for “fun”. It’s beyond my comprehension.
Read more: Costa Rica poised to ban hunting as sport in Latin America first
