Decapitation of jaguars is investigated by the police in the Pantanal – 04/13/2023 – Environment

The Civil Police of Mato Grosso are investigating the decapitation of at least two jaguars that allegedly took place in Cáceres, in the Pantanal region. A video showing two heads on the ground and a third feline tied up went viral, causing outrage among environmentalists, and sparked the investigation.

The origin of the recording, however, is still unknown, since it is not certain where it could have been made.

A 59-year-old cowboy (employee responsible for managing cattle) from Várzea Grande (MT) is being investigated by the Civil Police. His cell phone and those of two other people were seized to determine if there is a connection with the hunt and if they can lead to the authorship of the recording.

The video began to circulate on WhatsApp from March 27 in the state. The images are strong and show the heads of two jaguars next to a tethered feline. Next to them are three dogs barking and howling. The police asked for the public’s help in order to send complaints.

According to delegate Liliane Murata, head of the Environmental Police Station, the main complaint was made by a freighter, who said he was hired by the cowboy, in March, to make a trip from Cuiabá to Cáceres (MT). The man claimed that the dogs taken by the cowboy were very similar to the ones that appear in the images.

According to the delegate, the freighter also reported the conversation they had during the trip. The suspect would have said that he was hired as a cowboy to work on a farm in Cáceres, but he would also earn R$5,000 for each ounce he killed.

On March 31, the cowboy was arrested on the BR-070, in Cáceres, initially for mistreatment of the four Americano dogs that were being taken in the back of the truck.

Based on the characteristics of the animals, he was also questioned in the investigation of the jaguars. He has denied any involvement with the beheading of cats.

On April 2, the Civil Police launched the Black March operation, executing search and seizure warrants at addresses in Cáceres and Várzea Grande, including the cowboy’s house.

At his home, police found deer antlers and ammunition. “That he is a hunter, we know that he is, from what we found in the house”, said the police chief. However, no evidence was detected that the suspect had a connection with the decapitation of the jaguars.

Also on the 2nd, the cowboy went through a custody hearing and, again, denied being the author of the episode with the jaguars. Indicted for the mistreatment of dogs, he was released, by decision of the Justice of Cáceres.

The investigation now hinges on what can be found on the cell phones seized in the operation. In addition to the suspect’s device, that of his wife and a former co-worker at the Cáceres farm were confiscated.

Some files were erased and an urgent request was made to the forensic team to check the data.

“We’ve reached a point where we can’t move forward now, it will depend on the cell phone”, said Murata. The Dema team (Specialized Environmental Police) was in Acorizal and Cáceres, trying to trace the origin of the video, but nothing was found.

The rancher who hired the cowboy cooperated in the investigation and is not considered a suspect. In checking the conversation between the two, no evidence of alleged involvement in hiring the cowboy as a hunter was found.

After the disclosure of the suspicion, he fired the employee, who worked on the farm for less than a month.

A new interrogation of the cowboy, according to the delegate, now depends on expertise. As an investigator, there is no impediment for him to leave the city.

Images of decapitated jaguars circulated on social media and have angered environmentalists in recent weeks.

Instituto SOS Pantanal participates in a petition asking for the progress of bill 968/2022, which provides for a sentence of three to five years in prison for anyone who hunts and kills Brazilian cats. The bill is in the Chamber of Deputies. From the goal of 75 thousand signatures, the petition reached 70.7 thousand until the beginning of the afternoon of this Thursday (13).