Operation Iurará combats illegal hunting of wild animals in the Araguaia Valley

Named Operation Iurará, the action is led by the Specialized Environmental Police Station (Dema). The warrants were served on five rural properties in Ribeirão Cascalheira, approximately 900 km from Cuiabá, in addition to two residential addresses in Goiânia (GO) and a commercial establishment in Aparecida de Goiânia (GO).

According to investigations, the suspects may be involved in crimes such as hunting, selling and trading wild animals, as well as slaughter, environmental damage and criminal association.

The Civil Police investigation indicates that hunting would occur recurrently in the Quelônios do Araguaia Wildlife Refuge (RVS), a conservation unit located on the right bank of the Rio das Mortes. The area covers the municipalities of Ribeirão Cascalheira, Cocalinho (MT) and Nova Nazaré (MT) and is close to the Araguaia State Park.

According to the investigation, a farmer and businessman in the cosmetics sector would be named as the main suspect of leading the group. He owns a property on the banks of the Rio das Mortes, in Ribeirão Cascalheira, located in front of the protected area. Others investigated would have a connection with the businessman, including his wife and property employees. The suspicion is that the captured animals were intended for clandestine sale.

The operation takes place precisely at a time considered critical for the protection of chelonians. Between September and October, during the dry season, sandy beaches appear on the banks of the region's rivers.

It is in these places that the Amazon turtle, also known as the iurará, usually gathers to lay its eggs. The movement of animals during reproduction ends up making it easier for hunters to locate them. Therefore, according to investigations, this period is especially targeted by illegal hunting.

In addition to the Amazon turtle, other species of chelonians, such as the tortoise, also appear among the animals that would be targeted by hunters.

The region investigated is part of an important set of protected areas in the Araguaia Valley. Among them is the Araguaia State Park, one of the largest state conservation units in Mato Grosso.

The environmental importance of the region is also related to the diversity of animals that live there. Among the species found are the maned wolf, the pampas deer, the pink dolphin and different species of turtles.

The park also serves as an ecological corridor, allowing the movement of animals between different protected areas. The protection of these corridors is one of the functions planned for the conservation unit, precisely to allow the movement of fauna between different natural areas.