Man Investigated for Animal Cruelty After Dragging Ox and Mocking It in Video

Authorities in Bela Vista de Goiás, Brazil, are investigating a man for animal cruelty after he was filmed dragging an ox tied to his pickup truck and making light of the situation. The video, which the man himself posted on social media, shows the animal with a rope around its horns attached to the vehicle. During the recording, the man can be heard laughing and taunting the animal, referring to it as 'brave' and telling it to 'say hello to the media.'

Following public outcry and a denunciation, the man later attempted to justify his actions online, claiming the ox was 'very wild' and posed a risk of causing an accident. He stated he provides for the animal's needs and that there was no other way to transport it at that moment, asserting the ox was trying to keep up with the truck. However, police confirmed the investigation was initiated based on an anonymous tip that included the videos. Authorities also discovered another video showing the man cutting the abdomen of a pig, which was later found dead. The man was taken to the police station where a report was filed for alleged animal cruelty, a crime under environmental law.