Introduction
In February this year, an attempt to smuggle rare cacti from southern Brazil to Europe was discovered by the Federal Police (PF) at Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo. Four Czech citizens were approached and found with 214 units of cacti and envelopes with cactus seeds, hidden in beer cans, paper bags, and even in one of the men's shoes.
The cactus species involved
The plants belonged to seven species, all native to the Serra do Sudeste region in Rio Grande do Sul. According to the report signed by cactus specialist Rosana Singer, a biologist at the Porto Alegre Botanical Garden, two of these species are critically endangered: Parodia nothorauschii and Parodia neohorstii. Four others are endangered, including Gymnocalycium horstii and Frailea curvispina.
The investigation
The Czechs, who came from Montevideo and were preparing to board a flight to Vienna, were identified as Jaroslav Vich, Karel Slajs, Vladimir Bradna, and Vladimir Sorma. They carried a map of Rio Grande do Sul and a printed itinerary with phrases translated from Czech to Portuguese and Spanish, including: “Do you know where small cacti grow?”, “Are the cacti growing here?”, and “Sorry, I don't know if it's private!”. The group was detained for only one day but is still prohibited from leaving Brazil.
Implications and consequences
Given the large quantity of seized material, the court ordered an expert examination of the travelers' cell phones, which are under investigation. This case highlights the importance of protecting biodiversity and combating biopiracy, which can have devastating consequences for endangered species.
Conclusion
The attempt to smuggle rare cacti from southern Brazil to Europe is a serious case of biopiracy that must be rigorously combated. Protecting biodiversity is essential for conserving species and ecosystems, and it is crucial that authorities take effective measures to prevent and combat biopiracy.
Source / Reference
This article was originally published on Mongabay