An Escaped Jaguar Displayed In Rio Olympic Torch Ceremony Was Shot Dead

A jaguar was shot dead after it was displayed at the Olympic torch ceremony in the Amazonian City of Manaus in Brazil on Monday. The Brazilian military said that the jaguar escaped from its handlers at a zoo attached to an army training center in Manaus.

After the Olympic torch event, the female jaguar, which was also known as Juma approached the soldier. The soldier then fired a single shot to Juma and killed her. This has induced criticism from people as well as the displaying of the jaguar on the said event in public.

Col Luiz Gustavo Evelyn, whose unit is deployed in the region, said that the jaguar escaped and ran off as it was being moved from one area to another in the zoo. She tried to attack a soldier sent to help recapture it, so the handlers shot it with four tranquilizer darts. But it did not stop it and turned on a veterinarian. The soldiers then were forced to shoot the animal in the head with a pistol as noted by The National.

The organizing committee Rio 2016 stated that they made a mistake in permitting the Olympic torch, which is a symbol of peace and unity, to be exhibited alongside a chained wild animal. They further said that this image goes against their beliefs and their values. They guarantee that there will be no more such incidents at Rio 2016, according to National Geographic.

The Animal Freedom Union, an animal based rights group asked when will people stop with this sick need to show power and control by confining, taming and showcasing wild animals. Meanwhile, the Ipaam, the Amazonas state government environmental authority that administers the use of wild animals is now investigating the said incident. They also said that the display of the animal may have been illegal since it didn't have records of the proper permits.