We collaborate with this institution in the protection of threatened species

In Terra Natura Benidorm we have received this week the visit of CITES technicians (the International Treaty for the Conservation of Nature adopted by the 183 member countries of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature), to stop poaching and illegal trafficking, by identifying and registering each specimen.

All animals included in this treaty must be perfectly identified. Each specimen is marked with a ring, ear tag or microchip where contains all the biometric data: place of birth, species and other details of interest.

Terra Natura Benidorm houses 98 CITES species in its facilities, and participates in 19 reproduction projects of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and in another 30 Conservation projects (in situ and ex situ).

In our facilities, all births of CITES species are registered in different annexes (according to their level of concern) and deaths, transfers or changes are shortly communicated.

During the inspection, the identification of species has been satisfactorily verified, and a Heloderma lizard, two python snakes, and the last barasingha deer calves born in 2020 have also been microchipped. Also, it´s been verified the documentary record of various biological material for educational purposes.

Terra Natura Benidorm contributes with CITES in the development of a non-invasive identification system of reptiles, amphibians and arthropods, which, due to their diminutive size, it is not possible to implant a microchip, proceeding in these cases to documentation photographic. During the visit, various specimens of the genus Dendrobates have been identified in this way. Furthermore, the park’s work is essential to prevent the illegal trafficking of elephants, rhinos, crocodiles, primates, felines, barasingas, gaúres, flying foxes, toucans, macaws, etc.