Animals from the Brazilian fauna in illegal situation, apprehended by environmental agencies, undergo strict physical and behavioral assessments that include identification, sorting and weighing. Some of them are considered capable of returning to nature and may be released in the species’ areas of occurrence or origin, even though the natural environment is increasingly being reduced by the process of urbanization, the use of the land and of natural resources. In addition, several aspects must be taken into account in evaluating the viability of reintroduction such as, for instance, potential ecological impacts, risk of dissemination of diseases, among others. For containing preserved native vegetation cover, the Anami Institute is one of the sites where environmental agencies release many species of our fauna back into the wild.
Specimens that were victims of traffic – as many primates and birds – that have spent long periods of their lives in captivity, most of the times in precarious conditions, display physical and mental sequels that render impossible their return to nature, given they lack physical and cognitive skills required to find food, escape from predators or, even, join bands live in freedom. These animals are sent to institutions like Anami, where they have the opportunity to coexist with other individuals of the same species, in addition to becoming part of fauna conservation projects.
For exotic fauna specimens, i.e., found outside their natural distribution areas, as is the case of the great apes, reintroduction in the national territory is forbidden by law, as well as ecologically unviable.
