CAMPINA GRANDE DO SUL, Brazil – The large glowing sphere rises slowly into the dull morning sky of this rural town, 30 km far from Curitiba. As sunbeams are cast in every corner, this reporter is fondly received by Luciano Sabóia, who readily makes the large iron gates of his property open.

Surrounded by high dry-stone walls, capybaras and tapirs play in the artificial stream and endangered deer parade freely along the main narrow track that stretches out as far as one can see.

Startled small mammals run to every corner and a chorus of twittering springs up, giving a word of warning on my unusual presence that churns their quiet lives.

This is Criadouro Onça-Pintada (Jaguar Breeding Ground), a place where animals, at risk of vanishing in a puff, have been given a second chance to struggle to survive. In the breeding, Brazilian endangered species once badly injured by animal traffickers are treated properly and taken back to their natural habitat when ready.

Stroking Melissa’s hair (a friendly capybara) on the shore of the main lake, Luciano tells he purchased the area in 1995. “I have reforested the entire area, which was completely ripped to shreds due to deforestation and exotic animal trade”.

Luciano is nearly 50 years old and stands as a prominent oncologist in Curitiba. Although being a doctor, his truly passion resides in animal preservation.

He maintains financially the breeding by himself, without any governmental aid. “The government barely keeps itself”, he says. “The breeding is like a temporary five star hotel for animals”.

Some stay free on the area and others have enclosures, which are built like their natural habitat. There are several water springs and food is distributed in strategic points - 20 kg of meat a day and two crates full of fruits per week.

That is the reason for this spearheading initiative been marked out as an exemplary project by the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Natural Resources.

It is almost inevitable to compare him with biblical Noah or John Hammond of Michael Crichton’s book Jurassic Park (portrayed by Richard Attenborough). 

This Eden occupies over 30 hectares encrusted in the remaining areas of the Atlantic forest, which is one of the world’s treasure houses of biodiversity.

However, 90% of its original area in Brazil has been cut down since colonization roared to life in 1500. What devastated the most was the discovery of gold in Minas Gerais state and the Cycle of Coffee, opening huge gaps in the forest.

Mind you, some historians claim that more gold was taken from Minas Gerais state by the Portuguese monarchy than the amount taken from all Spanish colonies in South America.

The ill will of having an exotic animal at home, different from the traditional ones, or decorating rooms with stuffed animals fuel the illegal traffic of exotic animals. Stats from the Brazilian Network of Combat against Exotic Animal Trade estimate that in a megacity such as São Paulo may exist up to six million animals in dwellings. This ruthless traffic is reported to be the world’s third largest illicit business after arms and drugs (here and here).

The perverse result of animal trade in Brazil: out of ten exotic animals captured, nine die on the way, according to the WWF.

(It happens because YOU buy it.)

Blind monkeys, colourful birds painted of green to look like parrots, snakes tied off like cords. Focusing on this reality, achieving MDG 7 (to ensure environmental sustainability) is a bit far of Brazil’s reach.

But the fault may not fall only to the government. It is doing all it can, be it taking legal measures, creating specialized centres to treat apprehended animals or reinforcing Brazilian police force and military presence in the main areas.

Just for you to know, each specialized centre in Brazil receives two thousand animals a year. It is a culture, especially that of hunting, that must be brought to a grinding halt.

Emblematic symbols of a butchery

In the breeding there is an emblematic animal to the already dicey reality of conservation in Brazil: jacutinga (Aburria jacutinga). It has disappeared off the map in several regions of Brazil. It is a medium sized bird which looks like more a colourful chicken with wild habits. Due to its docile, even-tempered way, it has always been an easy target for hunters. In 1866, the German scientist Fritz Müller wrote a letter to the English naturalist Charles Darwin, relating that in that very same year about 50 thousand jacutingas were killed in the small region he was.

There are also four Guarás (Eudocimus ruber) that were apprehended in Maranhão state (Northeast of Brazil). This gregarious wading species has red plumage and a long thin beak, slightly curved. Broadly, it resembles Flamingo very much because of the vibrant colour. In Paraná state, there were many areas replete with them. But they were hunted and reduced to almost nothing.

(Jacutinga and Guará)

Nevertheless, this starkly vexing situation is result of long years of non-stop exploitation. Professor Rogério Lange from Federal University of Paraná affirms that South America is the animal illegal trade house. “Since Europeans washed up on here, exotic animals were treated as souvenirs”, he recalls.

However, delving desperately into archives and books, it is not difficult to find out that this trade of animals such as alligators and snakes was already done amidst the Incas, in Peru.

According to Brazil: A History – The incredible saga of a Country, from the Brazilian journalist Eduardo Bueno, in the first 30 years after the discovery of Brazil in 1500, Portuguese vessels that left this once brand new piece of land used to bring in to Europe several ‘products’ from here. Thanks to board diaries, it known that the vessel Bretoa returned to Portugal with over 5,000 trunks of Brazilwood, 3,000 jaguar skins and 600 araras. Disembarking in Europe, these wares were used to decorate palaces and ornament party gowns.

According to José Maurício Padrone, of the Fluminense Federal University (Rio de Janeiro), in the 16th century, South-American monkeys were found as pets in some England’s dwellings. In 1932, 25,000 hummingbirds were shot dead in Pará state (Northwest of Brazil) and their feathers sent to Italy, where were used to ornament chocolate boxes. Only in 1967, with the foundation of the Brazilian Institute for the Forest Development, is that this stark reality started to be reverted.

In this platform, I have already blamed Brazilian dictatorship (1964-1985) for many things. But now my hats off to it for this crucial step in 1967.

How to quell this butchery?

The first step has been taken by the Brazilian Noah. And now?

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Photos by Jaguar Breeding. To see more, click here.

Further shocking information from other different perspectives:

- Dead animal beer bottles.

- Gallery on the global traffic in exotic animals.

- Nothing to declare.

- Shooting at what is left.