Fourth giraffe illegally imported from South Africa dies

Another giraffe from a group of 18, illegally imported from South Africa, at the end of 2021, by Bioparque do Rio, died on Saturday (8). This is the fourth death recorded since November 2021, when the group of animals came to Brazil under the company’s care. Days after arriving in the country, six giraffes tried to escape and three of them died during capture. In March, Justice accepted a complaint against four people involved in the importation of animals. In a note, Bioparque informed that routine analyzes found the presence of a bacterium in six animals. Five responded to the treatment, one more showed resistance and died. According to the institution, the cause of death will be confirmed after the necropsy, with the follow-up of the competent bodies. The giraffes, which were supposed to stay on a plot of land in Mangaratiba only for a period of quarantine, have been in the area for over a year and a half. Petition Over the weekend, an online petition gained momentum after the animal’s death was announced. Organized by the Animal Rights News Agency (Anda), the document asks the authorities to provide a larger space that serves as a sanctuary, away from public exposure, so that they can live with dignity. The request has already achieved the adhesion of more than 25 thousand supporters. The goal is to reach 35 thousand. Only in the early hours of this Monday (10), more than 240 people had signed the petition. Click here to sign the petition. *With information from Solimar Luz, reporter for Rádio Nacional in Rio de Janeiro

Agência Brasil