New evidence of santeria rituals discovered in the mountains of Tenerife has come to light. This recent find occurred in the protected landscape of Las Lagunetas, within the municipality of The Rosary. Unlike previous incidents, there were no animal remains present, only cards and containers filled with ashes.
The Natural Environment Department of the Cabildo de Tenerife has launched a investigation into the origin of this religious practice, as it constitutes a prohibited activity that generates significant waste and involves the use of candles, which poses a considerable risk of forest fires.
Environmental agents from the council were the first to discover the waste at the lagunets on Monday morning, including candles that had been entirely consumed.
The discovery of such waste linked to rituals is a common occurrence across Tenerife’s mountainous regions, particularly in the lagunets and the Teide National Park. Most of these practices are related to Santeria, an African diaspora religion that developed in Cuba at the close of the 19th century. Its beliefs are deeply rooted in Yoruba culture and religion, of African origin, and in some parts of Spanish America, have blended with Catholicism.
In certain instances, animal remains are present, while in others, they are absent, as in this case, which was highlighted by the Association of Forest and Environmental Agents of the Canary Islands (AFMACAN) via its social media channels.
These activities have compelled law enforcement to conduct operations aimed at tackling irregular or illicit practices. For instance, in May 2023, customs surveillance agents from the Tax Agency, in collaboration with officers from the National Police, apprehended three individuals in Tenerife—two men and one woman—who were accused of smuggling offences and violations concerning flora and fauna.
These individuals were allegedly involved in the illegal introduction of protected species into Spanish territory and their remains, which were subsequently sold for use in Santeria rituals.
The investigation commenced in 2021 when National Police officers learned that two establishments on the island—one in Arona and the other in San Cristóbal de la Laguna—were selling protected species and their remains for santeria rites.
The recent case reported on Monday pertains to the illicit practices occurring in protected natural areas and the use of candles, which pose a risk to these environments due to the possibility of forest fires.
The location where these remains were found is part of the Protected Landscape spanning eight municipalities in Tenerife: Tacoronte, El Sauzal, La Matanza, La Victoria, Santa Úrsula, La Orotava, El Rosario, and Candelaria.
This area is a montane and wooded landscape of significant value, playing a crucial role in underground aquifer recharge and soil conservation. It contains notable specimens of pine and transition communities with Monteverde. Among its flora are several endemic species, such as Multiflora Perallis. This region forms the northeastern foothold of the complex structure of the Pedro Gil Dorsal Cordillera that traverses this sector of the island longitudinally.
