Avaliação da destinação de indivíduos de aves silvestres apreendidas no Estado de São Paulo

Abstract

Globally, crimes against the environment have been growing at an alarming rate, only trafficking and illegal trade in plants and animals has moved around $ 7- $ 23 billion in 2016. Along with other pressures such as habitat loss, introduction of alien species and degradation of natural environments, illegal trade can drastically reduce the size of populations of the species of interest. Information compiled by IBAMA indicated that 47,895 animals in Brazil were victims of illegal trafficking in 2005, where a little more than half belonged to the group of birds (57%). This study evaluated the data of wild confiscated birds from the Environmental Military Police of São Paulo, as well as the information contained in the infraction notices, in order to understand the flow of seized animals. The 116,011 birds confiscated were distributed in 242 species, and the family with the highest number of individuals seized was Thraupidae, followed by the parrots. The species most apprehended were the Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola), the Double-collared Seedeater (Sporophila caerulescens), the Green-winged Saltator (Saltator similis), and in the family Psittacidae, the Turquoise-fronted Parrot (Amazona aestiva) was the most seized. The vast majority of birds confiscated were not classified as endangered (94% to 95% of individuals), analysis carried out with the Brasilian and São Paulo Red Lists. Most of these confiscated animals were sent to breeders and rehabilitations centers (52.7%), another 23.1% were released in nature and 14.4% were deposited with the lawbreaker. The absence of more rigorous punishments for lawbreakers such as prison sentences and / or confiscation of capital equipment are the causes of the large number of animals that is illegally trade in Brazil, and it is pointed out the need for new and severe laws regulating the protections of Brazilian biodiversity. Since 2001, the number of confiscated animals has been increasing in São Paulo, and discussion and improvement of laws to punish offenders and to improve surveillance and monitoring strategies for the trade in animals is important.