Maracajá Ecological Park monkey assault suspects identified

Civil Police have identified two individuals involved in an incident where a capuchin monkey was assaulted at the Maracajá Municipal Ecological Park in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The incident was captured on video, which showed a man attracting the animal before slapping it.

The suspects, a 22-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman who allegedly recorded the footage, are being investigated for animal cruelty under the Federal Environmental Crimes Law. The video, shared by biologist Victor Michels, gained significant traction on social media, sparking public outrage.

The Maracajá municipal administration issued a note of repudiation, classifying the event as an act of mistreatment against wildlife. Local authorities have reinforced preventive inspections and visitor guidance within the park to prevent future occurrences.