Venezuela
Forest parks and protected areas
More than half of Venezuela is covered by forests that make up 1.3% of the world's forest regions. These habitats are home to a huge range of flora and fauna, including 250 species of mammals, 1,200 birds and thousands of orchids. The Caracua Basin is a lush forest region that hosts several species of endemic frogs, the critically endangered spider monkey and the South American tapir. Canaima National Park is an area of 3 million hectares consisting of unique forest formations, where you can find highly endemic amphibians, fish, reptiles and mammals such as the giant anteater, the giant otter, the bush dog, the giant armadillo and the oncilla, as well as 550 species of birds. However, Venezuela is one of the most urbanized countries in South America, bringing the northern part of the Amazon region under increasing deforestation pressure.
Wild animal meat
The Orinoco crocodile, present only in Venezuela and Colombia, is threatened due to hunting for its skin and meat - there are currently only 100 breeding females left in the country. Another example of an endangered animal is the capybara, which is also captured for commercial purposes.
For more information on this topic visit: http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s82
Bull and cock fights
Despite the decline in popularity, bullfighting and cockfighting are still organized in Venezuela, due to the lack of legislation that prohibits any animal cruelty in the country. Some local regions, including the capital of the Miranda state, have imposed bans on bullfighting events, however the Coleus sport events, where riders try to knock a bull down while pulling on its tail, are still organized.
More information on the topic: http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s49
Stray cats and dogs
There are large numbers of stray animals in Venezuela, which often live in very bad conditions. The stray cat and dog populations are controlled by unregulated culling which usually involves very cruel methods. If you find these animals, you can help them by giving them some food or water, but avoiding close contact in order to prevent contagious illnesses. Before traveling you can find the contacts of local animal protection NGOs to inform them in case you find very ill animals or victims of animal abuse, or in case you want to make a donation.
More information: http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s95-perros-y-gatos-callejeros
Dolphinariums
In this country you can also find centers which keep cetaceans (dolphins, killer whales or beluga whales) in captivity. Science has shown that these intelligent animals suffer greatly in the limiting conditions of dolphinariums and their stress levels and mortality rates are very high.
The training of these animals for circus shows where they perform totally unnatural behaviors, and which can harm them physically, is achieved through keeping the animals in a permanent state of hunger so that they act in exchange for a piece of dead fish.
Condemned by their facial structure, which resembles a human smile, these highly social animals, which would swim long distances and dive into great depths in the wild, are used to perform stunts in small concrete tanks. Many of the animals are taken from the wild.
For more information: http://sosdelfines.org/
Here is a list of local NGOs that can be contacted in case you want to make a donation, a complaint or find an animal that needs help in Venezuela:
APROA - Asociación Pro Defensa de los Animales
Sociedad Venezolana Protectora de animales
