The Federal Court in Rio de Janeiro has condemned three defendants for smuggling, mistreatment, and obstruction of environmental oversight in the irregular importation of 18 giraffes from South Africa in November 2021. Four animals died shortly after arrival, and the 14 survivors are under Ibama's custody. Defenses have announced appeals against the ruling.
The Federal Court in Rio de Janeiro sentenced Manoel Browne de Paula, former operations director at BioParque do Rio, and Cláudio Hermes Maas, technical manager at the time, to combined five-year prison terms in an open regime for smuggling, mistreatment, and obstruction of environmental oversight. They will appeal while at liberty. De Paula was also fined about R$ 95,000, and Maas must pay approximately R$ 45,000.
Ibama environmental analyst Hélio Bustamante Pereira de Sá received a one-year detention sentence, converted to restrictive rights, for culpable false declaration by attesting that the Portobello Resort & Safári in Mangaratiba had conditions to receive the animals.
The criminal action was filed by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, which alleged the use of ideologically false documents to enable licensing for the importation destined for BioParque and the resort. Four giraffes died after disembarking on November 11, 2021, three shortly thereafter, according to the indictment. The animals were kept in inadequate locations, and there was a delay in notifying authorities of the deaths, hindering the investigation.
In a statement, BioParque expressed surprise at the first-instance decision and said it will appeal. "The institution reaffirms its trust in the Justice system and has the firm conviction that, in the end, the truth will prevail and the innocence of those involved will be recognized," the release states.
Maas's defense argued the importation was legal and highlighted the defendant's career in species conservation. De Paula's defense reiterated confidence in the presented evidence and expects the decision to be overturned. Sá's defense emphasized the conduct was culpable, without criminal intent.
Ibama stated it will not comment on the judicial decision, as it is not a party to the case, and that it has initiated a confidential disciplinary administrative process against the server. A state server was acquitted due to lack of proven criminal responsibility.
The NGO Fórum Nacional de Proteção e Defesa Animal, acting as assistant accuser, criticized the punishment as disproportionate. "The masterminds remained unpunished and, in the end, the giraffes were the only ones who truly suffered the consequences," said lawyer Ana Paula de Vasconcelos.
The sentence highlighted flaws in the importation and post-arrival management, with inadequate structures at the resort. The Federal Police classified the case as Brazil's largest international animal trafficking incident. The giraffes were deemed wild-caught under Cites. The 14 survivors, declared forfeited to the Union, are in Mangaratiba under Ibama custody, which is studying their destination; BioParque cares for them in the meantime.
