Members of Trini Eco Warriors, a group dedicated to using video, photography, investigative reporting and educational programmes to increase environmental awareness, were recently involved in the rescue of an endangered pawi. The pawi (Pipile pipile), which inhabits the high woods of the Northern Range, is threatened by hunting and forest destruction. Its population is currently estimated at just over 200 and it is listed as critically endangered.
The group's attempts to save the bird from a hunter lasted for several hours from a Sunday afternoon and well into the following morning. Kyle de Lima and Marc De Verteuil, of Trini Eco Warriors, had been on a fund-raising hike to Madamas Waterfall in Brasso Seco when they came upon a hunter in possession of the endangered bird, which had been shot but was still alive. De Verteuil said they approached a pick up parked along the Brasso Seco road and were alarmed at the sight of "a rather sad looking bird sitting in-between two men with a blue string tied to its foot, which had been fastened to the gearstick of the vehicle."
He said: "Until then, I had never seen one in the flesh. It's not nature's greatest looking creation, but we are all familiar with the signs along the north coast explaining how few there are left. We asked to photograph it and were given unlimited access by the hunter. "We noticed that the bird was injured, and when we asked the man he told us that another hunter had shot the bird and that he had paid $100 to rescue it from the pot."
The Trini Eco Warriors offered to reimburse the hunter his money so they could take the bird to a place where it would receive proper treatment. However, he flatly refused and said he intended to keep the bird until it was well, then release it. Following a discussion with the hunter, which became quite heated, de Lima and De Verteuil realised they were getting nowhere and decided to make some phone calls seeking advice on how to handle the situation. "The consensus was that we should go to the Blanchisseuse police station and file a report. We set out to do this, leaving the man at the spot in Brasso Seco."
After several hours, with the assistance of Constable Brian Theodore, they were able to locate the hunter who had the pawi at his home. "As suspected, the bird had been left tied to the gearstick by its foot overnight. Unfortunately this meant that while the family slept, the bird was left to suffer in silence and in pain due to the four pellets that were later found to be lodged in its right wing," De Verteuil said
"The man was awakened, and officer Theodore explained the situation to him, and took possession of the pawi.
For his part the man remained calm and civil, though he did express to me that what we had done was "not a nice thing." Trini Eco Warriors reimbursed his $100, and we started the journey home." The injured bird was taken to Dr Piddock's veterinary practice, Northwest Veterinary Clinic on Mucurapo Road, for treatment. The veterinarian in attendance, Dr Bridgewater, treated the pawi at no cost to Trini Eco Warriors. The bird is currently at Detta Van Aart-Buch's sanctuary where it will receive the care necessary to restore it to health.
BELOW:The injured pawi when it was first spotted by members of Trini Eco Warriors tied to the gear stick of the hunter's vehicle.