A TikTok influencer had his household capybara confiscated

Agenor Tupinambá has 1.9 million followers on TikTok, and has garnered more than 36.7 million likes since creating his account. This Brazilian became famous by posting videos of the animal world, of his life on the farm, but above all of the privileged relationship he has established with a capybara, a rodent that can measure more than 1 meter and weigh 50 kilos. adulthood. But in a video published on April 19, where he appears very affected, Agenor Tupinambá announced the receipt of a complaint from the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama). About a week later, Filò was confiscated from him.

According to Rest of the World, the authority under the aegis of the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment has accused Tupinambá of having mistreated the capybara, as well as other animals, also holding him responsible for the death of a sloth that he had previously adopted. Charges denied by the influencer, who also claims that the deceased sloth had previously been saved by himself, and that he simply did not survive due to his weakening.

Ibama also fined Tupinambá 17,000 reals (around €3,400) for harming the environment. Decisions that strongly reacted to those close to the influencer, but also thousands of his followers, and alerted the Brazilian media. Joana Darc, a deputy, is said to have even organized a break-in attempt at Ibama’s headquarters, with the aim of recovering the animal. Ibama defended his decision citing health reasons, explaining to our colleagues that “the influencer often broadcast kissing the animal” and making a dubious parallel with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Influencers stimulate the desire to have these wild animals as pets”

An Ibama biologist also made more audible arguments, arguing that he was particularly concerned about certain influencers, who contribute to the increase in illegal trafficking, in a country where 35 million wild animals are captured and sold each year. . “Influencers stimulate the desire to have these wild animals as pets”, did he declare. The capybara is currently listed as Least Concern (LC) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

The story ended well for the influencer and his rodent friend, although it is not known how the relationship was originally tied. Tupinambá traveled to Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state, to defend his case in court. A federal court has issued a temporary decision, allowing the influencer to recover Filó and return him to his farm. For its part, the Brazilian Institute of the Environment said that it would have tried to reintegrate the animal into its natural environment within a few weeks, if the decision had turned in its favor.

Since the “liberation” of the animal, the influencer has remained discreet and has kept a little distance from social networks. Fans of the duo may therefore have to wait a little longer before seeing them swimming and cuddling again, especially since the influencer seems to have deleted all the videos showing Filó. The case, which could still experience twists and turns, in any case raises legitimate questions concerning the possession of wild animals and their promotion on social networks.