The park García Sanabria will feature 20 permanent surveillance cameras placed around the Flower Clock and the Las Ranas pond in the botanical garden of the capital. This decision, requested by the Santa Cruz City Council to the Government Subdelegation and the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands in January, aims to have three video surveillance systems in place to deter individuals from abandoning or releasing exotic species in the ponds or engaging in acts of vandalism within the specified area.
The mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, praised this initiative, stating that “it will enable the local police to monitor these specific areas of the renowned park, ensure public safety, and prevent criminal activities against the Flower Clock and the ponds where exotic animals are often abandoned without regard for the environmental risks involved.”
The councillor for Public Services, Carlos Tarife, elaborated on the decision, mentioning that “the installation of 20 security cameras, operating all year round and clearly marked with signs, will protect this space designated as a Site of Cultural Interest with the category of historic garden.”
Tarife also highlighted the ongoing issues faced by uncivil behaviours affecting the park’s flora and fauna, necessitating the authorization for installing cameras to identify those responsible for such actions. He further noted that the repeated repairs to the Flower Clock, due to vandalism, incur an annual expense ranging from 3,500 to 5,000 euros, with each restoration costing between 265 and 530 euros depending on the extent of damage.
River Crabs
The president of the Neotrópico Foundation, Jaime Urioste, expressed that “these cameras will act as a deterrent to halt the continuous release of exotic species that pose a threat to our ecosystem by adapting and spreading to more fragile natural habitats like the Anaga Rural Park.”
Urioste also disclosed ongoing efforts in García Sanabria to eliminate river crabs, an invasive species causing disruption in the natural environment by reproducing rapidly. To combat this, ponds have been drained and European eels have been introduced. Additionally, new traps will be set up to address this issue.
According to the regulations, if the recordings capture incidents that could amount to serious or very serious criminal offences, they will be handed over to the judicial authorities within 72 hours for appropriate action. In cases where the recordings are not linked to any ongoing official investigations or proceedings, they will be deleted within one month.
