Dead animals along the Paraopeba River: what to do?

Understand why it is important to pay attention to the mortality of fauna animals in your region!

Posted on 04/12/2020

Rivers are major centers of life. An example of that are the first cities in history: all were built in the vicinity of these freshwater sources. Many animals also live in areas of rivers: after all, they need water to live, don't they?

If you live close to the Paraopeba River, you must understand how wild animals appear in daily life: birds singing, marmosets in the trees, small rodents, frogs and fish. As they are not domesticated, they depend on the resources of nature to survive, and can be severely affected by any change in the environment.

Tragedies in dams, as occurred in January 2019 in Brumadinho, can cause environmental contamination. The Paraopeba River received a large volume of mining waste, which may have influenced the lives of animals in the region, weakening their health or even causing death.

This impact on health happens because, when drinking from river water, animals absorb the substances that are present in it, whether they are beneficial or harmful to their health. Due to the bioaccumulation process, these substances gradually accumulate in the body of the animals that live in the region. In the case of toxic chemical compounds, this excess can lead the animals to death.

The researchers of Subproject 06 of the Brumadinho Project are monitoring the mortality of animals in properties that are up to 1 km from the Paraopeba River, being them domestic, production or wildlife animals. The purpose of this subproject is to perform the autopsy, that is, a complete examination of the corpse of animals found dead in the region by the middle of 2022, to collect samples for further analysis and to determine what caused the death of each of these animals.

The collected samples will be subjected to histopathological and toxicological tests, capable of identifying changes in the biological structures of these animals, as well as the presence of toxic elements in the organisms, which makes it possible to understand the level of environmental contamination of the Paraopeba River and whether it is responsible for death of animals in its vicinity.

In addition to the impact on the lives of wild animals, contamination of water, soil and air can also affect the health of domestic animals, production animals and even humans. We can also be contaminated by consuming fish, milk or eggs that are intoxicated.

Therefore, when researching the cause of death of fauna animals, subproject 06 also helps to understand how much the environmental disaster affects the lives of all populations that depend on the river, which is essential for the health of all of us.

As Subproject 06 is accompanying 19 cities, it is very important that communities assist in monitoring each region, informing advisors in the case of the death of any fauna animal, even birds and fish, in addition to domestic animals, such as dogs, cats, birds and also farm animals, such as cattle and horses. The team of researchers is always on hand to reach the bodies found. In the case of small animals, they will be transported to the Veterinary School of UFMG for the necropsy, but it will take place on the spot for large animals.

Learn more about Subproject 06 and how you can help! !