Peccari Tayassuidae skin trade in Salta Province, Argentina and evaluation of its conservation policy. Period 1973-2012

Abstract

Considering the geopolitical importance of the Province of Salta, located on the border of Argentina with Bolivia and Paraguay.Objective: To analyze the coherence between the commerce, legislation and administration of (Pecari tajacu) and (Tayassu pecari) Account the dynamics of the trade of leather with provinces and neighboring countries. Methods: The les of the provincial wildlife agency were checked and key informants were interviewed. The Argentinean exports of peccaries were analyzed during the period 1980-2013, using the CITES trade database. Results: In Salta, 46111 hides were legally traded between 1973 and 1997 and 12600 during the period 1988-1992. Although sport hunting of peccaries is legal in Salta, the trade continue supplying the internal skin market. Now a day, to obtain the meat is the main reason for trapping. Conclusions: The administrative systems are ine cient and trend to increase the illegal trade, due to contradictions between the legislation and the stock documentation system for traders. That system allowed them to continue in the international market, even 16 years after the exports were banned in 1988 by Argentina’s CITES Administrative Authority. During the period 1980-2000, 561.156 skins of (P. tajacu) were exported, while 36.173 skins of (T. pecari) with origin in Argentina, were imported by di erent countries. The implementation of multispeci c production systems, may be an alternative for the sustainable use of the peccaries.