Indigenous leaders in Brazil denounce illegal hunting of animals in the Amazon

By Maria Regina Telles, Monalisa Coelho, and Camila de Andrade Simões – Special for Cenarium*

SÃO LUÍS (MA) – “The hunters enter, kill, and take [wild animals] to eat or sell in the municipality,” reports an indigenous leader from the Araribóia Territory in the Maranhão Amazon. The leader will not be identified in this material, nor will the other indigenous sources cited in this report, to protect them physically.

“When they enter the territory, they commit various types of illegalities that affect our fauna, our flora, and the animals, such as the deer and the tapir, which are endangered,” revealed the leader regarding the crime against biodiversity.

“They kill one, two, three…,” she continued, emphasising the recurrence and impunity of these acts. “When they go to extract timber, they end up committing other crimes,” she added, denouncing further illicit acts associated with forest exploitation.

According to data from the Federal Highway Police (PRF), most seizures occur in western Maranhão, precisely where vast forest areas are located. The account from the Araribóia Indigenous Territory (IT) helps pinpoint the occurrence of this crime.

Animal trafficking in the Brazilian Amazon is a multifaceted problem that encompasses illegal hunting and the smuggling of exotic species. Animals such as monkeys, exotic birds, reptiles, and native mammals are captured and illegally traded, fuelling a market that extends both nationally and internationally.

According to the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), thousands of animals are illegally removed from the forest each year. It is estimated that only a small fraction of these cases are discovered and halted by authorities.

Since 2018, animal trafficking in the Maranhão Amazon has been a growing concern, as recent PRF data reveal. From that year until 3 March 2024, 724 live animals and 35 dead ones were seized, highlighting the magnitude of the problem.

However, amid this scenario, the pandemic significantly reduced the flow of transiting vehicles and the number of officers on duty due to the risk of Covid-19 infection, directly reflecting in the reduction of inspections carried out.

According to Lucas Mourão, head of the PRF’s Communications Unit (Nucom) in Maranhão, the number of trafficked animals is likely even higher. “As the PRF is the force that most inspects environmental crimes, animal traffickers seek alternative routes, so the numbers may be larger,” he stated.

In 2022, an operation named “Uirapuru” drew attention to the trafficking of wild birds, especially in the regions of São Raimundo das Mangabeiras, São Domingos do Azeitão, Paraibano, Loreto, and Balsas, along the BR-230 highway. In this single operation, 472 birds were rescued, demonstrating the complexity and extent of the problem.

The integration between organisations such as Ibama, PRF, Military and Civil Police, as well as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), was fundamental to the operation’s success. However, combating animal trafficking goes beyond isolated actions. It requires a strategic and coordinated approach, ranging from public awareness to strengthening environmental laws.

A particularly alarming aspect is the exploitation of vulnerable people by actual animal traffickers. According to Roberto Veloso, an environmental analyst at Ibama Maranhão, based at the Wildlife Screening and Rehabilitation Centre (Cetas), humble individuals are often coerced and recruited, used to transport birds, for instance, feeding a sophisticated criminal network that extends beyond Maranhão’s borders.

The conditions in which animals are transported are equally shocking, often in tiny, unventilated cages, leading to malnutrition and injuries, usually fatal. Additionally, the PRF highlights the importance of proper procedures when handling rescues, avoiding irresponsible actions that could further weaken the animals.

Combating animal trafficking requires an integrated and multifaceted response. According to the head of Nucom at PRF Maranhão, criminal networks have modernised and specialised, requiring an equally sophisticated approach from authorities.

Regarding the role of the State Secretariat for the Environment (Sema) in combating animal trafficking, it is crucial to highlight that this agency is responsible for the protection of wildlife in Maranhão’s ecosystems, as established by State Law No. 5.405/92. Additionally, it must oversee the licensing of wildlife breeding facilities, control the collection of fauna for scientific research, and monitor the impact on fauna from enterprises licensed by the secretariat itself.

To combat animal trafficking, Sema monitors the activities of state-licensed enterprises, using reports that include surveys, rescue, and dispersal of animals, leading to the issuance of specific authorisations. Scientific research is also evaluated for authorisation based on documents and detailed work plans.

Wildlife breeders, in various categories, must have specific environmental licensing, with activities monitored through federal electronic systems containing traceable information, which Sema must oversee. Such systems allow the monitoring of commercial operations, sales, and transport of captive-bred animals, providing data for inspections.

National Inspection Scenario

The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) is responsible for managing federal conservation units. To prevent and combat animal trafficking in these areas, the organisation asserts that intelligence information, the participation of the Federal Police, National Force, and Ibama, as well as state environmental agencies and military environmental police, are necessary.

In the North and Northeast, ICMBio notes a stronger fight against illegal wildlife breeding, particularly regarding passerines (a large order of birds), which represent the majority of seizures.

The institution revealed the most commonly used routes in the Brazilian Amazon for this crime, which include rivers and roads connecting inland areas to larger cities and borders. These are: a) Port of Belém/PA; b) leaving through Amapá towards the Guianas; c) in Amazonas, through the border with Colombia; d) in Acre, using the Bolivian and Peruvian borders; and e) through Pacaraima municipality in Roraima, towards Venezuela.

Concerning federal highways in the Brazilian Legal Amazon (ALB), the PRF clarified that individuals found with wild animals are detained, sign a commitment term to appear in court, and in most cases, are released, as these are minor offences under current legislation. In more complex cases, they are referred to judicial police (Civil or Federal) for identification of criminal organisations.

According to the same agency, police forces (Federal Highway, Federal, Civil, and Military), Municipal Guards, and environmental agencies conduct inspections and arrests in cases of flagrante delicto. The judicial police (Civil and Federal) handle investigations, while environmental agencies generally apply fines.

The roles of Sema and Ibama in Maranhão

Returning to Maranhão, in terms of monitoring and inspecting the wildlife trade, Sema highlighted that it conducts joint operations with Ibama, responding to reports, rescuing seized animals, and sending them to Cetas.

Monitoring identified Codó and surrounding areas as the region with the highest animal trafficking, with significant complaints regarding wildlife trafficking. The most trafficked species, primarily for consumption, include the armadillo, agouti, and paca.

Roberto Veloso, an environmental analyst at Cetas, emphasises the severity of the situation, especially concerning endangered species.

According to him, the golden parakeet, for example, is an endangered species that continues to be a frequent target of trafficking. This persists despite enforcement efforts by the Environmental Police, Ibama, and the Military Police. However, Veloso points to a gap in Brazilian legislation that hampers the effectiveness of arrests and the punishment of traffickers.

In Brazil, inconsistent legislation needs updating

An analysis of the relevant laws reveals an urgent need to update and strengthen measures for the protection of wildlife. The analyst highlights Law No. 5,197, which, upon coming into force in 1967, marked a significant shift by recognising wildlife protection as a crucial issue. However, he emphasises that many challenges remain today, particularly regarding the lack of effective punishment for criminals.

ICMBio highlights the regulations that, according to the institution, are the most applicable to animal trafficking: Law 9,605/1998 and Decree 6,514/2008. The institution reveals that the penalties for wildlife crimes under Law 9,605/1998 are lenient and often insufficient to keep animal traffickers imprisoned. This, according to ICMBio, leads to impunity and fosters the continuation of the practice, given the high profitability of this illegal activity.

Beyond legal issues, the environmental analyst also addresses environmental changes that directly affect animal populations, such as habitat loss due to agricultural expansion and illegal hunting within indigenous lands. He underscores the importance of understanding the connection between development and environmental conservation, stressing that the Amazon plays a crucial role in maintaining this balance.

It is important to distinguish between subsistence hunting and hunting for illegal trade. While the former is permitted in specific circumstances, the latter poses a severe threat to food security and the preservation of wildlife.

Ultimately, the fight against wildlife trafficking in Brazil requires an approach that includes not only enforcement measures but also environmental education and improvements to wildlife protection laws. Meanwhile, the voices of indigenous leaders echo as a stark reminder of the urgent need to protect and preserve the unparalleled richness of the Amazon—not just for present generations, but also for those to come.

*This report was produced with the support of the Earth Journalism Network.

Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves