–-says his charges are spurious

THE Wildlife Management Authority (WMA) has vigorously refuted allegations published in the  Guyana Times newspaper alleging the absence of screening of  animals prior to export, discriminatory policies by the Wildlife Division and the suppression of information about the discovery of a new species of primate.

The article, titled  “A lot wrong in the wildlife sector”, was published in the March 10, 2014 issue of the Guyana Times, the Authority said.
It noted that the main source of information for the article was a  Mr. Imo Fox, who professed to be a wildlife exporter, which is a fallacy in that while he was licensed to do so years ago, he no longer is.
With respect to the screening of animals prior to export, the Authority disclosed that all animals are inspected by veterinary oficers of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) prior to exportation.

PROTOCOL
It added that even while this is so, the WMA and the GLDA are currently collaborating on a protocol to improve the monitoring of animals destined for export.
The WMA noted that Mr. Fox alludes to the discriminatory policies of the Wildlife Division, where quotas are diminished after they “bring in the markets,” but the  WMA has a process for allocating extra quotas taking into account several factors.
The allocation process is overseen by a subcommittee established by the Wildlife Management Authority to manage quotas.
The WMA also said that Mr. Fox did not submit to the  WMA or the  Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment any evidence to support his claim that his family discovered a new species of primate.
Meanwhile, the ministry said it is not aware of any publication supporting the claim that a new species of primate was discovered in 2012.

(By Clifford Stanley)