Challenges about legal status of exotic, introduced or invasive animals in Colombia
The historical and normative development in Colombia regarding the treatment and protection of animals has resulted in a paradigm shift. Their classification as movable property has evolved, starting from the Colombian Civil Code, to recognize them as sentient beings. This distinction is reflected in the jurisprudence of both the Council of State and the Constitutional Court. In this regard, one of the contemporary discussions about animal protection revolves around the treatment and impact on Colombian territory of invasive, introduced, and exotic animals. Given that these are non-native species, they unavoidably affect the country’s fauna. This aspect demands that the State deal with the challenges of recognizing their status. Thus, this text aims to identify how the treatment of this typology of animals unfolds both in terms of regulations and jurisprudence in Colombian territory.