Juma the jaguar was drugged, chained and used as a "mascot" for the Brazilian Army in an Olympic Torch ceremony in Manaus, Brazil. Minutes later she got off her leash and a member of the Brazilian Army shot her. But she shouldn't have been there in the first place.
The Amazonas State Institute for Environmental Protection (IPAAM) is the government authority that oversees the use of wild animals. They are claiming they didn't know Juma was going to be "shown". But they had agreed for another jaguar named Symba to be used at the event, so it's both unlikely and irrelevant that they didn't know about Juma. Symba was even on the property when Juma was shot. IPAAM's reaction seems more like a cover-up than the truth. The bottom line is IPAAM should never have allowed either jaguar to be chained and paraded around for human enjoyment.
Jaguars are a threatened species, and now they are one less. Juma was a wild animal whose behavior can't be controlled. She did nothing wrong and now she is dead. The whole thing could have been prevented if IPAAM had refused to allow a jaguar to be in an Olympic photo op in the first place.
The Olympic committee who arranged for Juma's involvement in the event is embarrassed and regretful, as they should be. Now IPAAM should also show remorse as well as commit to not allowing animals to be rented out for events.
Sign this petition if you agree that IPAAM should not allow animals in their care to be farmed out for entertainment.