Costa Rica bans hunting; promises jail, fines, for offenders

Eco-conscious Costa Rica has become the first Latin American country to ban hunting for sport after legislation was passed by Congress this week. Anyone caught killing animals for fun will face up to four months' prison and fines of up to $3,000. The laws are part of the country's bid to preserve its unique biodiversity, in particular its jaguars, cougars and sea turtles, which foreigners flock to the country to kill with good humor. The initiative comes after 177,000 people signed a 2010 petition calling for the ban in a country that protects 25 percent of its land as national parks and reserves. [Source]

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