An 8-year-old girl from Brasília was attacked by a puma on Thursday afternoon (May 14) during a birthday celebration trail at the Cordovil attraction within the Volta da Serra Sanctuary in Alto Paraíso de Goiás. The child suffered facial injuries and was transferred to Hospital de Base in Brasília. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Uma menina de 8 anos sofreu um ataque de uma onça-parda na tarde desta quinta-feira, 14, durante um passeio com a família na região da Chapada dos Veadeiros, em Goiás. O caso ocorreu no atrativo turístico Cordovil, dentro do Santuário Volta da Serra, em Alto Paraíso de Goiás, enquanto a criança retornava de uma trilha realizada para celebrar o aniversário."
According to the Fire Department, the girl was accompanied by her parents, brother, and a farm employee when attacked. The child's father and employee engaged in physical struggle with the animal to try to drive it away. After releasing the girl, the puma advanced against the employee, who reacted by throwing a backpack at the feline. "The puma bit the backpack and then fled to the forest," the corporation reported. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Durante o ataque, o pai da criança e o funcionário da fazenda tentaram afastar a onça e entraram em luta corporal com o animal. Após soltar a menina, a onça-parda avançou contra o funcionário, que reagiu ao lançar uma mochila na direção do felino. "A onça mordeu a mochila e, em seguida, fugiu para a mata", informou a corporação."
The Volta da Serra Sanctuary reported that the puma was on a tree when spotted by the group. In a statement, the enterprise said it initiated a review of visitation protocols and reinforcement of preventive signage, in alignment with specialized professionals and competent agencies. The presence of pumas is documented in Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, which houses 12 species at some level of extinction threat. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Em nota, o Santuário Volta da Serra informou que acompanha de perto o caso e afirmou que a onça-parda estava sobre uma árvore no momento em que foi avistada."
"Para as espécies ameaçadas na área do Parque existe o Lonchophylla dekeyseri (morcego-beija-flor), Monodelphis rubida (catita), Myrmecophaga tridactyla (tamanduá-bandeira), Blastocerus dichotomus (cervo-do-pantanal), Chrysocyon brachyurus (lobo-guará), Leopardus pardalis (jaguatirica), Leopardus tigrinus (gato-do-mato-pequeno), Oncifelis colocolo (gato-palheiro), Panthera onça (onça-pintada), Pteronura brasiliensis (ariranha), Puma concolor (onça-pada) Speothos venaticus (cachorro-do-mato-vinagre)."
According to Marcello Clacino, coordinator of Chapada dos Veadeiros Search and Rescue, "the presence of these animals integrates the natural dynamics of these ecosystems and requires permanent attention to safety guidelines during nature and adventure tourism activities." ICMBio has a Safety Management System applied to high-visitation units, based on international references for accident prevention and emergency procedures. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"A ocorrência de fauna silvestre representa um importante indicativo de equilíbrio ecológico e conservação do bioma Cerrado. A presença desses animais integra a dinâmica natural desses ecossistemas e exige atenção permanente às orientações de segurança durante atividades de turismo de natureza e aventura"
"Em unidades de alta visitação ou com concessões, aplicamos o Sistema de Gestão de Segurança (SGS); em outras, escalonamos quando usar o SGS completo ou o protocolo de gestão de segurança da visitação. Nosso foco é levantar perigos, riscos, causas e consequências para prevenir cada vez mais e saber como agir em emergências. O Protocolo de Gestão de Segurança da Visitação (PGSV) utilizado pelo Instituto é uma adaptação de referências internacionais consolidadas"
Attack occurred Thursday afternoon (May 14) at Cordovil attraction, Volta da Serra Sanctuary
Father and employee engaged in physical struggle with the animal to defend the child
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (1)
Girl was celebrating birthday that had occurred the previous Wednesday
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What is the current health status of the attacked girl?
Why it's still unknown: No information about the child's health condition has been released after transfer to Brasília
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What specific wildlife safety protocols were in place at Volta da Serra Sanctuary?
Why it's still unknown: The Sanctuary reported initiating protocol review but did not detail existing procedures before the incident
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What factors may have motivated the puma's aggressive behavior?
Why it's still unknown: Experts mentioned defensive reactions can occur with unexpected approaches, but no specific analysis of animal behavior in this case
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Will there be a formal investigation into the site's safety protocols?
Why it's still unknown: No information provided about whether competent agencies opened procedures to evaluate safety measure adequacy