When it comes to politics, I think there is something quite big you are missing. Politics and programs for the well-being of wildlife is of course important. However, -with all due respect- I don’t think that actions from people raised in a first world country is the solution. Most first world enforced conservation acts are economically and culturally crippling to the populations it restricts. I have little faith in conservation acts that come from the outside, having seen their effects first hand. Rules are either ignored or enforced in a way that impoverishes the zone. This is not restricted to Venezuela, but to the whole zone.

Solutions have to come from the locals and the local communities. Locals depend on the capybara for food (not something I would ever like to try) and economical reasons. It would be good to have a calculated, well-planned system of consumption, but this cannot be before the people of the area are properly educated and economical (and maybe even gastronomical) alternatives explored. Even the article posted by Yole hinted at these social undertones. To ask not to use local resources is asking the Australians not to eat kangaroos, the Peruvian not to eat guinea pigs and the American not to eat turkeys.

I know my post sounds harsh, it is not intended to be so. I love capybaras, they are one of my favorite animals (I love rodents, especially since I got my baby rats) and I wish nobody ever harmed them. I would love nothing more than to see Venezuela’s wildlife flourish. Still, I believe that the only way to make this truly happen is through the improvement of the education and economical situation of the people who depend on this animal for survival.

PS: Religion didn’t make it easy on the capybara either, since it is the one red meat edible during Christian celebrations.

I’m back, sadly, because I read this news http://www.animanaturalis.org/n/10841

I give you the reason. I wish we could do something to help capybaras

Sorry about my english, I speak spanish.

Thanks.