The 6 men accused of attacking a capybara with sticks and stones in the early hours of March 21, in the Jardim Guanabara neighborhood, on Ilha do Governador, in the north of Rio, were reported to court by the MP-RJ (Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro).
Isaías Melquiades Barros da Silva, José Renato Beserra da Silva, Matheus Henrique Teodosio, Paulo Henrique Souza Santana, Pedro Eduardo Rodrigues and Wagner da Silva Bernardo are responsible for mistreatment using cruelty, illegal hunting, corruption of minors and criminal association.
All of them had their arrest converted into preventive arrest after a custody hearing held at the end of March.
According to the Public Ministry, the accused “they acted in a conscious and coordinated manner, with the participation of 2 teenagers, by surrounding and attacking the animal with stones and pieces of wood with nails, using a cruel method”.
The beating caused “serious injuries, including head trauma and severe eye damage”according to the veterinary report attached to the file. The action occurred without authorization, also constituting illegal hunting of wild animals.
The accused also filmed the attacks and demonstrated debauched behavior during the attack. “Those involved filmed the action and demonstrated mocking behavior while the animal was subjected to intense suffering.”stated the MP.
According to the investigation, thrown stones also hit parked vehicles, causing damage to property.
After investigations by the Civil Police, the suspects were identified and located and admitted to the crime upon arrest. They claimed that they intended to slaughter the animal for consumption.
The complaint also points to signs of criminal repetition. A witness recognized one of the accused as the perpetrator of attacks against another capybara a few days earlier, in the same neighborhood.
In the civil area, the Public Ministry requested the establishment of a minimum value for repairing environmental, collective moral and material damages. The loss was estimated at R$44,632.57, according to a technical report. The resources must be allocated to veterinary care and animal recovery institutions, in addition to the State Environmental Fund.
This text was originally published by , on April 9, 2026, at 9:10 am. The content is free for republication, the source is cited, and has been adapted to the standard of Poder360.
