Caiman and jaguar carcasses found in the Pantanal
The federal police are investigating alleged hunting crimes after two wild animal carcasses were found floating in the Paraguay River, in the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul, in the city of Corumbá.
One of them is a caiman, found without its tail—a part of the animal that is considered a delicacy in local cuisine.
The other carcass is that of a jaguar.
The investigation is being conducted under judicial secrecy, meaning no information can be disclosed in order to avoid jeopardizing the search for evidence and suspects.
It is also not yet possible to confirm whether the two cases are related. They were found in the same river, but in distant areas. Due to the current, it's uncertain whether they were killed where they were found.
Biologist Sérgio Barreto, from the Instituto Homem Pantaneiro (Man of the Pantanal Institute), said that Corumbá has a licensed slaughterhouse for commercial caiman meat. Still, illegal and predatory hunting of the animal remains common in the region.
According to him, this practice harms not only wildlife, but also people who rely on ecotourism and wildlife observation for their livelihoods.
Due to the difficulty of identifying those responsible, the IHP and the Environmental Police frequently carry out awareness campaigns to prevent hunting in the Pantanal.
In Brazil, the penalty for hunting wild animals ranges from 1 to 3 years in prison.