THE EDITOR, Sir:
JAMAICA'S WILDLIFE, such as it is, is being eradicated along with our trees and coral reefs.
First we have the totally inexcusable, bird shooting with our small size and the deforestation taking place this only exacerbates the problem for survival of our distinctive and indigenous birds. And of course, the over-fishing, which has been going on ad infinitum for decades. By the way, anyone notice that you hardly ever see a John Crow again? Hope Zoo is trying valiantly with the Iguana programme, and hopefully, somebody can actually start to prevent the killing of the Jamaican boa, or yellow snake.
A proper programme of conservation by somebody who knows what they are doing, needs to be undertaken for these fabulous reptiles before they are all gone. I know the Hope Zoo is trying here too, but more expertise is needed. It is good to see something happening there as far as caring and effective personnel is concerned, and the planned development.
I would like to remind everyone that lizards are not pests. Nearly all the advertisements for pest eradication in the yellow pages of the phone book, promise to kill lizards for you. This is a terrible mistake and a shame perpetrated by ignorance and superstition.
The lizards are to be gently chased out of the house if you don't like them. They are harmless. This includes the croaking lizards, many of which are indigenous to Jamaica found nowhere else in the world.
They are being destroyed and I guess a lot of them are already about to be no more. It should be illegal to kill them, and any pest control companies or individuals who do so should be arrested or fined for animal
cruelty.
I am, etc.,
L. DUPERROUZEL
33 Waterloo Mews
Kingston 10
