He was shot in the Chiquibul more than three weeks ago, and today, Guatemalan Scarlet Macaw poacher and border jumper Porfilio Ramirez was criminally charged.
The 36 year old has been initially charged for the crime of Aggravated assault and entering Belize illegally.
The Forestry Department is now expected to additionally charge him for wildlife poaching and illegal entry in a protected area.
On Sunday, 7 June at about 6:00 p.m., Ramirez was allegedly one of two poachers that Forest Rangers from the Friends for Conservation and Development encountered in the Chiquibul National Park, about half mile inside Belize in the Caracol area.
The Rangers were mounting cameras to monitor for the poaching of endangered scarlet macaws when they saw Ramirez and another man doing the exact same thing. They were carrying 7 juvenile scarlet macaw chicks and a curassow in two crocus bags. When they realised they had been caught, one of the men ran off, while Ramirez allegedly aggressed the rangers - who fired in self defence. He shot Ramirez, causing a non-lethal injury - and then the rangers carried him several hours out of the forest and to the San Ignacio Hospital for initial treatment, and then to the KHMH.
He has been receiving treatment in the three weeks since and and now the Guatemalan from La Rejoya is facing multiple charges and certain incarceration for crossing the border illegally.
As for the Macaw chicks, which had been raided from their nest and were 25 to 40 days old - they were taken to animal rescue where 5 of them are doing fine and two died. Rafael Manzanero of FCD says they are now being prepared to be released into the Chiquibul wilderness in the next few weeks.
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