Four years after the importation of 18 giraffes from South Africa, Federal Justice in Brazil condemned the main individuals responsible for the operation. The decision from the 10th Federal Criminal Court of Rio de Janeiro highlighted irregularities in the animals' entry into the country, along with instances of mistreatment that occurred post-importation. The Federal Public Ministry's indictment argued that the foreign animals were imported fraudulently, using ideologically false documents, and received inadequate care from their arrival in November 2021 until at least May 2022.

Part of the giraffes were housed at the Portobello Resort & Safári in Mangaratiba, located in the Costa Verde region of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Tragically, four of the giraffes died soon after arriving, three of them within days of landing in Brazil in November 2021. The comprehensive sentence, spanning 88 pages, was issued by Judge Marcelo Luizio Marques Araujo, underscoring the severity of the charges against BioPark officials and the dire consequences faced by the animals involved.

This case raises significant concerns regarding wildlife management practices in Brazil and the enforcement of animal welfare laws. The verdict serves as a critical reminder of the need for stringent regulations to prevent similar cases of exploitation and to ensure adequate protection for animals being transported across borders. The outcome of this case may inspire stricter oversight of both wildlife imports and the ethical treatment of animals within Brazil's zoos and parks.