The Saint Lucia boa (Boa orophias) is a non-venomous snake that is endemic to Saint Lucia.
The Forestry Department is in receipt of a very disturbing video, circulated on social media, showing at least five Saint Lucia boas or Tete Chien being killed by members of the public. In the video the boas were bludgeoned to death with a stick. Additionally, a large rock was hurled at the animals to ensure their death. This extreme cruelty to wildlife is unacceptable and constitutes a major offence under the Saint Lucia Wildlife Protection Act, chapter 6.03, of 1980 revised in 2001. The Saint Lucia boa is listed as “Protected Wildlife” under schedule one of the Wildlife Act. The Forestry Department therefore states that it categorically condemns such irresponsible and indiscriminate killing of our protected and endemic wildlife and will in no way condone such illegal acts perpetrated by members of the public. The Forestry Department will therefore seek all legal avenues to ensure that the perpetrators of such wildlife crime receive the maximum penalty for their illegal actions.
According to the Wildlife Act, Part 4, Section 14 (a) states: “Except by authority of a license or permit issued under section 10, a person commits an offence who hunts or takes any protected wildlife or the eggs, fry or young thereof;”. Similarly, Section 16 (d) states:” A person commits an offence who for the purpose of killing or capturing any protected or partially protected wildlife, using any live animal or any decoy or appliance whatsoever;”.
The Forestry Department is collaborating with the police on the matter and with their assistance an immediate arrest will be effected and charges will be laid against the perpetrators of this horrific and disturbing wildlife crime. The Forestry Department is seeking the maximum penalty, as per the Wildlife Act, of $5000.00 per animal killed or imprisonment or both.
The Forestry Department is also aware that in some communities Boas are being hunted, stewed and sold as a delicacy. This too is an offence against the Wildlife Act, and anyone caught hunting, purchasing or selling boa meat or stew will be prosecuted under the law. Section 17 (a) and (b) in the Wildlife Act clearly states: “A person commits an offence who, except by authority of a license issued under section 10, has in his or her possession or control any protected wildlife” and “A person commits an offence who exposes or offers for sale or purchases any protected wildlife or any part of such wildlife or the eggs, fry or young thereof;” The Forestry Department will not tolerate the indiscriminate killing and persecution of protected wildlife.
The Saint Lucia boa (Boa orophias) is a non-venomous snake that is endemic to Saint Lucia. The animal poses no threat to humans. As a matter of fact, boas predominantly prey on rats which poses a greater concern for public health through the spread of Leptospirosis. The Forestry Department wishes to urge members of the public to contact the Department for assistance with snakes at telephone number 468-5634/35 or cell number 518-7154. No one should be indiscriminately killing boas or any other protected wildlife as depicted in this recent video.
Our indigenous biodiversity plays a very important role in conditioning our environment so that the environment in return can provide the ecosystem services and functions that are necessary to support and sustain human lives and livelihoods. As a government agency, the Forestry Department is charged with the mandate of protecting, conserving and managing Saint Lucia’s flora and fauna in an effort to promote a healthy natural environment for a healthy and productive nation. It is therefore the duty of all to help conserve nature and use its resources in a sustainable and responsible manner.