Last Friday (28), the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) notified the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) to immediately start the procedure to return 15 illegally imported giraffes to the wild. from South Africa by the Rio de Janeiro Zoo (BioParque).
The recommendation was demanded in an action that investigates the mistreatment and importation of the giraffes, which initially numbered 18, but three of them died after fleeing the Hotel Resort Safari Portobello, in Mangaratiba, on the state’s Costa Verde. The others had been confined since November 11 of last year in 30 square meter stalls.
The animals were seized last Wednesday (26), after an operation by the Federal Police and Ibama inspectors. Two men who were responsible for maintenance were arrested in the act. The resort was fined and prevented from receiving animals until all the enclosures have a “inhabited” certificate, issued by the responsible environmental agency.
The MPF requests that the BioParque inform, within 48 hours, the start and completion date of the adaptation works in the area where the giraffes are provisionally. Clarification was also requested on the death of the animals and the presentation of signed agreements for the importation of giraffes, impalas, zebras or other animals of medium or large exotic fauna.
According to investigations by the Public Ministry, the BioParque had already started the procedures for importing 18 impalas (Aepyceros melampus) and 15 zebras (Equus quagga), also from Africa.
Technical opinion from IBAMA on the death and importation of giraffes
According to Ibama’s technical opinion, the death of the three giraffes “is the tragic consequence of a series of procedural errors”, in which the agents responsible for the import authorization “did not act in a way to preserve the greatest public and environmental interest”.
The agency linked to the federal government also says that “private interests prevailed, with an economic basis, disguised, however, as a conservationist measure based on a flawed and weak conservation project.” And that if there was an analysis of national legislation and biological issues, “the animals would not have been imported and, consequently, three of them would not have died”.
For IBAMA inspectors, people who intend to contribute to the conservation of the species “do not even have the competence to properly and safely contain the animals.” They claim the case is not under discussion. “The escape of the giraffes and the deaths of three of them argue for themselves against any explanation.”
The import, according to the institute, contravened the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Flora and Fauna Species (Cites), to which Brazil is a party.
Source: CNN Brasil
