AMAZONAS, BRAZIL - An inspection carried out on Monday (7) led to the seizure of a vessel illegally transporting 117 turtles within Jaú National Park, located between the municipalities of Novo Airão and Barcelos, in the interior of Amazonas state, and Caracaraí, in Roraima.

The operation was conducted by agents from Brazil’s environmental protection agencies Ibama and ICMBio during a routine patrol in front of the park’s river base. According to officials, the animals were concealed beneath regional goods being transported to Novo Airão.

According to Ibama, the turtles were in good health and were immediately released into the park area following evaluation by specialists. The individual responsible for the illegal transport was fined.

The action is part of the Amazon Turtle Program (PQA), which monitors management areas and protects species vulnerable to trafficking and illegal hunting.

Jaú National Park (PARNA do Jaú) is a federally protected conservation unit under full protection status, managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio). Covering 2.3 million hectares, it is one of the largest continuous tracts of protected tropical rainforest in the world.

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