The course, held in Valdemoro, was aimed at members of the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) with the aim of training them in an eminently practical way in the fight against poison in our territory.

The course, developed in Valdemoro, was aimed at members of the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA)with the aim of training them in an eminently practical way in the fight against poison in our territory.

Among the topics that were addressed were the legislative framework of protected species in Spain, the use of poison and its impact on the natural environment, the prosecution of crime and the actions of the Special Prosecutor’s Office for the Environment and Urban Planning and an approach to the “Antidote” Program, created in 1998, as well as NGOs that actively work against this problem.

From 1997 to 2008, more than 6,000 animals have died from the poison. Among these animals, there are numerous specimens of endangered species. The loss of 70 black vultures, 300 griffon vultures, 7 imperial eagles, 23 Egyptian vultures and 350 kites can be noted. Although it is estimated that, due to the difficulty of accessing real figures, the above data account for only 10 percent of general conditions.

SEPRONA has carried out more than 1,300 actions to detect toxic baits and an average of 10 arrests have been made annually for these crimes; some have exemplary sentences.