On Monday, a rare Amazon jaguar was shot dead by military forces, after it escaped handlers following a torch ceremony. Local and global animal rights activists have already protested the move.
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What a tragedy to have taken place at such a world-celebrated event. That failed to stop it, so the animal was shot with a pistol in the head.
The animal slipped free of its handlers following the ceremony, during which it was held in chains, at a zoo at a Brazilian military training center – the Jungle Warfare Instruction Center, according to the Associated Press.
Just before its escape, it and another jaguar had been exhibited as the Olympic torch crossing Brazil passed through the zoo on its way to Rio de Janeiro, which is hosting the Games due to start August 5.
The Olympic torch is traveling throughout Brazil leading up to the August 5 opening ceremony. “When will people (and institutions) stop with this sick need to show power and control by confining, taming and showcasing wild animals?” the Rio de Janeiro-based animal rights group Animal Freedom asked on its Facebook page.
The local organising committee for Rio 2016 have apologised for the incident. The Amazon Military Command says that killing the jaguar was in line with its safety procedures, according to TMZ. “She died at the scene”.
“We guarantee that there will be no more such incidents at Rio 2016”, the committee added.
If it’s found that the Brazilian army breached environmental regulations in its use of the jaguar for the torch ceremony, it could face a fine of between $800 and $8,800.
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The Army did not immediately reply to a request on Tuesday for more details. Her cubs will be captured until they’re old enough to release back into the wild.
