A wild fox that was kept captive in conditions incompatible with its welfare was rescued in the Buenos Aires locality of San Pedro, following an operation led by the Argentine Federal Police. The animal was illegally exhibited as an attraction in a gastronomic establishment that operated during the weekends.
The intervention was carried out under the coordination of the Ministry of National Security and allowed the removal of the specimen from an environment where it remained chained, with signs of physical deterioration and completely removed from its natural habitat.
Subsequently, by judicial order, the mammal was transferred to the city of Santa Fe, where it will begin a recovery process at the Center for Rescue, Research, and Interpretation of Fauna (CREIF), an institution specialized in the care and rehabilitation of wild species.
The raid confirmed the state of captivity and illegal use of the animal
The investigation was carried out by the Environmental Crimes Department of the Argentine Federal Police, whose agents located a property on Camino Debok at 1400, in San Pedro, where a gastronomic establishment operated with authorization to keep farm animals.
However, during the investigative tasks, it was found that a wild fox was also hidden on the premises, housed in a precarious wooden pen and chained, a situation that prompted the intervention of the Justice.
With the evidence gathered, the Court of Guarantees No. 1 of San Nicolás authorized the raid. Once inside the establishment, the officers verified the poor housing conditions and confirmed the alleged mistreatment suffered by the specimen.
A judicial case for alleged violations of animal protection and wildlife laws
During the procedure, the person responsible for the establishment was identified, a 51-year-old woman, who was charged while the judicial investigation continues.
The case is being processed under the jurisdiction of the Functional Unit of Instruction and Trial No. 7 of San Pedro and includes alleged violations of the National Law 22.421 on Wildlife Conservation and Law 14.346, which penalizes acts of cruelty and mistreatment towards animals.
Meanwhile, the fox will remain at the CREIF in Santa Fe, where veterinarians and specialists will assess its health status, behavior, and the possibilities that, once recovered, it can return to a suitable natural environment.
What penalties does Argentine legislation contemplate for this type of environmental crime
National Law 22.421 prohibits the capture, possession, transportation, and illegal exhibition of wildlife when there is no authorization from the competent authority. It also establishes criminal and economic sanctions for those who market or keep protected animals outside the current regulations.
For its part, Law 14.346 considers it a crime to inflict mistreatment or acts of cruelty against animals. The sanctioned behaviors include keeping them in conditions incompatible with their welfare, depriving them of adequate food, subjecting them to unnecessary suffering, or using them in activities that compromise their physical integrity.
When both regulations are applied together, as occurs in investigations related to the illegal captivity of wildlife, those responsible may face criminal proceedings, definitive confiscation of the animals, disqualifications, and other judicial measures aimed at ensuring the protection of species and discouraging trafficking and the exploitation of native biodiversity.
