noharleyyet
Well-known member
Lima, Peru
Three poachers have been charged with killing seven people during a 5-yr. crime spree in which they allegedly slaughtered 2,500 vicunas, a protected Andean animal prized for it's wool, authorities said Friday.
The men are accused of killing four park rangers, two poice officers, as well as one local man since 2000. They were also charged with killing 2,500 vicunas and hijacking buses and cargo trucks throught the remote zone.
Two of the men were captured Apr. 1, as they tried to escape Bolivia, police said. The third suspect was caught Apr. 7 in his home of Puquio, 265 miles southeast of Lima.
A fourth poacher was killed in a firefight in a remote Andean plateau know as Parinacaocas about 130 miles southeast of Lima where the poachers had allegedly just slaughtered 40 of the animals.
The vicuna, considered sacred by the ancient Inca Empire, once ranged throughout the Andes mts. from Ecuador to Argentina. Demand for it's light brown fur led to devestating decline.
Today vicuna wool sells for $500 per kilogram in Bolivia and fetches about double that in Europe, authoroties said.
Three poachers have been charged with killing seven people during a 5-yr. crime spree in which they allegedly slaughtered 2,500 vicunas, a protected Andean animal prized for it's wool, authorities said Friday.
The men are accused of killing four park rangers, two poice officers, as well as one local man since 2000. They were also charged with killing 2,500 vicunas and hijacking buses and cargo trucks throught the remote zone.
Two of the men were captured Apr. 1, as they tried to escape Bolivia, police said. The third suspect was caught Apr. 7 in his home of Puquio, 265 miles southeast of Lima.
A fourth poacher was killed in a firefight in a remote Andean plateau know as Parinacaocas about 130 miles southeast of Lima where the poachers had allegedly just slaughtered 40 of the animals.
The vicuna, considered sacred by the ancient Inca Empire, once ranged throughout the Andes mts. from Ecuador to Argentina. Demand for it's light brown fur led to devestating decline.
Today vicuna wool sells for $500 per kilogram in Bolivia and fetches about double that in Europe, authoroties said.
