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Eagle ray, fruit bat, coconut crab
Dive master Hu Je Fang a Chinese national, was found guilty of killing a spotted eagle ray. I wonder what happened to Pretty Tour Co. and Pretty Kitchen where I heard the eagle ray was cooked and eaten. This is the same company owner that used the company boat and company employees to conduct this illegal activity. From what I understand, when you kill a protected species all that are involved will be penalized: the owner, the captain, the boat and equipment, and the dive master. I feel that although DLNR did a good job, they did not go far enough. DLNR should have confiscated the boat and prosecuted the owner. Auction all property involvef and use the funds to continue the protection of all endangered species.
I was at Saipan Zoo last week with Mr. Boy Aldan, the zoo’s owner, and we discussed the predicament of our Saipan Zoo and how difficult it is to maintain. Funding is hard to come by. Maybe the penalty from the action of Pretty Tour and Pretty Kitchen should have been donated to the Saipan Zoo. I do not claim to have all the answers but maybe we can start there. Remember that at any given day there is a sea turtle, fruit bat, coconut crab, sea birds, or eagle ray being stolen, poached, or killed and, let’s face it, these are delicacies in Asia.
I encourage the owner of Pretty Tour and Pretty Kitchen to visit the Saipan Zoo so he can better understand how important it is to preserve our indigenous wildlife and maybe donate some funds to the Saipan Zoo. I read in the news that he claims to be a millionaire.
Manuel J. Alvarez
Garapan, Saipan
