Animal Trafficking in Maranhão Threatens Amazon Biodiversity

Animal trafficking in the Amazon forest portion of Maranhão, a state in northeastern Brazil, poses a growing threat to local biodiversity. Brazil's Federal Highway Police (PRF) reported a total 724 live and 35 dead animals seized in the state of Maranhão between 2018 and March 2024. One such action, Operation Uirapuru, rescued 472 wild birds in a single raid in 2022, offering a stark reminder of the magnitude of the problem. According to the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), thousands of animals are illegally removed from the forest every year, with only a handful of occurrences actually discovered and twarthed by the authorities.

The poaching and smuggling of species, including monkeys, exotic birds, reptiles and native mammals, is buoyed by demand from national and international markets. Indigenous communities in the region frequently report invasions of their territories, with the consequent indiscriminate hunting and destruction of habitats that follows. Enforcement operations are critical, but hampered by insufficiently strict laws that often result in impunity for traffickers, as pointed out by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).

The exploitation of vulnerable people by traffickers and the deplorable conditions in which animals are transported further aggravate the situation. Coordinated work between the multiple parties involved, including the PRF, IBAMA, state police, investigative police bodies and NGOs, is essential for effectively curbing animal trafficking. ICMBio also emphasized the urgent need to revamp and strengthen wildlife protection laws and put in place educational and public awareness measures to preserve the natural wealth of the Amazon for future generations.

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This story was produced with support from the Earth Journalism Network. It was first published in Revista Cenarium on June 24, 2024. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Story written and published by: Maria Regina Telles, Monalisa Coelho, and Camila de Andrade Simões

Banner image: Cages full of wild birds rescued are displayed in front of Federal Highway Police officers / Credit: Arquivo Polícia Rodoviária Federal.