Last Friday (3/5), a puma recovered after being run over returned to the wild in Minas Gerais, thanks to the joint efforts of the State Government, represented by the State Forestry Institute (IEF), and the Brazilian Institute of Forestry. Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), together with other entities.
The rescue occurred when the puma was found injured on a highway near Campos Altos, in Alto Paranaíba, at the end of February. After being rescued by the Minas Gerais Military Fire Department (CBMMG), she was taken to the University of Uberaba (Uniube) for treatment. There, a fracture was found in the left femur, and the jaguar underwent surgery.
After part of the recovery at the Center for Triage and Rehabilitation of Wild Animals (Cetras) Patos de Minas, the jaguar was transferred to the Belo Horizonte Zoo, where he received constant care due to the need for medication and aggressive behavior.
With complete recovery, the animal was released in a private area, far from urban areas, after registration with Ibama in Minas Gerais.
“When people from this area got in touch with us and we saw the potential of the area, we saw that it would be an excellent place to release it, in an articulation between private properties and state and federal agencies”, explains Érika Procópio, veterinarian at the IEF.
The jaguar was equipped with a radio collar for post-release monitoring, allowing its movements to be monitored in the wild.
The puma (Puma concolor or Cougar) is the second largest feline species in the Americas and the fourth largest in the world, but it faces threats of extinction. With solitary and territorial habits, it is known to feed mainly on mammals, birds and reptiles.
