Conservationists warn about a new law in the works that would allow trophy hunters to shoot jaguars and other endangered wildlife “for sport” in Brazil’s rainforests.
President Jair Bolsonaro’s government are considering a new bill that would legalise hunting, breeding and selling of animals, which could mean the setting up of a commercial hunting ground in Brazil for the first time in more than half a century.
Critics and conservationists fear that private hunters will be allowed to shoot the endangered species and they could be allowed to sell them to wildlife centers and zoos. Amazon rainforests have an estimate of at least 1,100 species, most of them threatened with extinction due to deforestation.
It also does not help knowing that the Amazon had been burning for almost a month now, endangering the thousands of floras and faunas.
The bill originally went into Brazil’s parliament in 2016, but was archived since them after facing criticism from conservationists. However, with Mr. Bolsonaro in-charge, he has loosened several environmental protections, including this bill.
“Brazilian environmentalists have criticised the bill sharpl, describing hunting as cruel, immoral and a medieval ritual. Legalised hunting would only cater to hunters’ lust for killing and boost the trade in threatened species,” said the Rainforest Rescue, a non-profit organization.
“The bill also plays into the hands of the Brazilian arms industry and arms exporters, particularly those in the United States,” they added.
If the bill is approved, it will go to the senate and deputies of the national congress.
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