Ukrainian women are arrested trying to take Lear’s Macaw eggs to Suriname – 02/06/2024 – Environment

Two Ukrainian women were arrested by the PRF (Federal Highway Police) when trying to leave Brazil with Lear’s Macaw eggs, a bird found in the Brazilian Northeast and which is on the list of endangered species in the country.

The suspicion is that the eggs were taken from an environmental protection area in Bahia.

The arrest took place on Friday afternoon (2) and, according to Ibama (Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), the Ukrainian women were already being monitored by the agency and the Federal Police.

They were approached at km 409 of BR 116, in Governador Valadares (MG), during a joint action by the PRF, Federal Police and Ibama.

The car they were in was heading from Salvador (BA) to São Paulo. The investigation involved intelligence teams from the PRF in Paulo Afonso (BA) and the PRF Police Station in Governador Valadares.

The police found a greenhouse inside a bag, with six intact eggs. According to the PRF, the women admitted that they were carrying eggs from wild birds native to Brazil and that they would take them illegally to Suriname, where they would be sold.

Also according to the police, one of the women broke five eggs during the trip to the Federal Judiciary Police, where the incident was recorded. Only one egg remained intact.

In July last year, 29 Lear’s Macaws and seven Golden Lion Tamarins were seized in Suriname, which led to integrated action by the Ministries of the Environment, Justice and Public Security and Foreign Affairs to repatriate the animals. native to Brazilian fauna.

However, some of the seized birds were stolen before repatriation. Five macaws and seven lion tamarins were brought back to Brazil, after rescue carried out by a team made up of veterinarians and federal police.