Criminal complaint filed for penguin ecocide in Chubut

The Argentine Association of Environmental Lawyers, Fundación Patagonia Natural and Greenpeace Argentina filed a criminal complaint for the penguin ecocide that occurred in the Punta Tombo Nature Reserve in 2021. The event occurred in August and November of last year, when without prior authorization of environmental impact and through the use of backhoe, roads were opened, native vegetation cleared and soil movements were carried out on the Area of the Magellanic Penguin Colony and the Punta Clara marine shore that borders the Punta Tombo Natural Reserve. which caused serious damage to the fauna, flora and associated ecosystems, Greenpeace said in a statement. In this way, at least 175 nests were destroyed. In addition, they installed a 900-meter fence that prevented the free movement of penguins. 
“What happened shows that we are facing a massacre of penguins in the open, atrocious acts of animal cruelty and damage to ecosystems that cannot go unpunished,” said Lucas Micheloud, Co-Executive Director of the Argentine Association of Environmental Lawyers, in the letter. Then he added: “We need justice to convict those responsible with the maximum penalties provided for these acts and that the National Congress urgently advance in the reform of the penal code typifying environmental crimes.”

Photo: Courtesy of the press

José María Musmeci, President of Fundación Patagonia Natural said: “The intervention of justice is necessary and very positive to reinforce constant conservation efforts and limit arrogant action on biodiversity that belongs to all of us and not to the owner of the area.” “We are facing a real ecocide. This is a clear example of how ecosystems and species are violated daily by human activity. We cannot allow more events like this to happen, we urgently need a law on environmental crimes, which contemplates specific penalties for these crimes,” said Bruno Giambelluca, coordinator of Greenpeace’s climate and energy campaign. 

Original source in Spanish