A Mexican businessman has publicly denounced Hernán Améndola, director of the Wildlife Breeding Station (ECAS) in the province of Buenos Aires. The businessman accuses Améndola of diverting the responsibility of conserving wildlife towards economic interests, instead of focusing on his conservation work.
According to the complaint, the businessman presented his claim to officials from the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs, but it was dismissed. The businessman had arrived in Argentina with a technological proposal to optimize government processes and during his visit, he encountered a lack of cooperation from Améndola, whom he had previously met.
Concerns have been raised about Améndola's conduct, as images circulating on social media show him wielding weapons and wearing hunting attire, which contradicts his official role in species conservation. Furthermore, possible illegal activities have been pointed out, such as 'rescuing' wildlife to then sell it to the provincial state through intermediaries.
Informants have warned about the existence of an illegal animal trafficking network that could be operating within the ECAS environment. Despite the accusations and suspicions, neither the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs nor Governor Axel Kicillof have commented on the matter.
In an audio released by RealPolitik, Améndola dismissed the entrepreneur's interest, indicating that he was more focused on generating income and suggesting that his priority was making money, which could constitute an ethical breach or even a crime.
This scandal has called into question Améndola's integrity and ethics, as well as the transparency and legality of operations surrounding the ECAS. The lack of an official response to the accusations raises the possibility of broader irregularities within the provincial government, highlighting the system's vulnerability to potential abuses of power by officials who prioritize their personal interests over their public duties.
