Tragic Bus Crash in Bolivia Claims Lives of 31 Passengers

Authorities in Bolivia and Argentina have launched a criminal investigation into an illegal hunting network allegedly responsible for the deaths of endangered jaguars. According to reports, the Buenos Aires-based company Caza & Safaris offered hunting packages up to $50,000 for wealthy international clients, including Americans and Spaniards, luring them to Bolivian protected areas.
In September 2023, Spanish businessman Luis Villalba Ruiz reportedly killed five jaguars in Bolivia, prompting Bolivian prosecutors to investigate his activities alongside Jorge Néstor Noya, the head of Caza & Safaris, who is currently under house arrest in Argentina. Prosecutors indicated that both men face serious charges including biocide and destruction of national wealth, potentially leading to 19 years in prison.
The Argentine Federal Police's August 2024 operation resulted in the seizure of over 3,000 hunting trophies, underscoring the extensive scope of this illegal operation that has reportedly been active since 1979. Both governments are probing possible complicity among local officials, following significant public outcry led by environmental activists.