Peru will file criminal charges against Greenpeace activists who damaged the country's sacred Nazca lines after the group left footprints in the desert after performing a publicity stunt.

Activists trespassed into a prohibited area of the world famous hummingbird geoglyph, said the Ministry of Culture. Activists placed big yellow cloth letters that read, Time for Change; The Future is Renewable, beside the hummingbird.

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This climate change message was intended for the 190 worldwide delegates currently in Lima for the U.N. climate talks.

The Nazca lines consist of famed geoglyphs or drawings of stylized plant and animal figures etched into the coastal desert. They were declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994. The drawings date back to 400 to 650 A.D.

Deputy Culture Minister Luis Jaime Castillo said absolutely no one, not even high ranking government officials, is allowed to walk within the vicinity of the ancient geoglyphs without any authorization. Those who obtain authorization must wear special footwear to protect and preserve the drawings on the ground.

Castillo adds these sacred drawings are most fragile since they're ancient relics consisting of black rocks under a white background. If one leaves a footprint, it's bound to last for hundreds of thousands of years. The activists apparently destroyed the most recognizable lines of all.

Greenpeace spokeswoman Tina Loeffelbein, however, claims the activists were extremely careful not to damage the Nazca lines.  Greenpeace is now conducting an investigation, she said

She declined to answer any questions regarding the case when asked by the government to identify who were involved.

Castillo said this act can be considered a slap in the face at everything that Peruvians hold sacred.

The government has launched a nationwide manhunt for these individuals. Prosecutors will now file charges under a law that bans attacks on archaeological monuments. The law mandates up to six years in prison for those found guilty.

Castillo says that the Peruvian has nothing against Greenpeace since everyone is up for the climate change cause. However, the environmentalist group regularly causes trouble with governments that often leads to arrests and jail time.

TagsGreenpeace Activists Destroy Sacred Nazca Lines in Peru, Greenpeace, peru, Nazca Lines, climate change talks, Lima, UN climate talks