Denúncias de crimes ambientais envolvendo animais registradas no último triênio nas regiões Sul e Centro-sul do Ceará

Abstract

Environmental crimes involving animals represent a significant socio-environmental, legal, and public health problem in Brazil, especially regarding animal abuse and the illegal trafficking of wild species. This study aimed to analyze the profile of reports of environmental crimes involving animals registered in the South and South-Central regions of the state of Ceará in the last three years, seeking to understand their temporal and spatial distribution, the most frequent types of crimes, the species involved, and the institutional actions taken. This is a descriptive, retrospective study with a quantitative approach, carried out using secondary data provided by the Environmental Police Battalion of the Military Police of Ceará. The information was organized and analyzed using descriptive statistics, allowing for the characterization of the regional scenario of the reports. The results showed a progressive increase in reports throughout the analyzed period, a predominance of reports related to animal abuse, especially of domestic animals, and the relevance of illegal wildlife trafficking as a threat to biodiversity. The study also observed a concentration of complaints in more populous municipalities and weaknesses in the criminal accountability process, with a lack of formal records of referrals to the police station. It concludes that the analysis of complaints constitutes an important tool for environmental surveillance and support in the formulation of public policies, reinforcing the strategic role of veterinarians in the identification, technical characterization, and tackling of environmental crimes involving animals. The study contributes to the understanding of the regional context and highlights the need to strengthen integration between inspection agencies, public security, and the judicial system, aiming for greater effectiveness in animal protection and public health