The Specialized Prosecutor’s Unit for Environmental Crimes (UFEMA), led by prosecutor Blas Matías Michienzi, conducted a comprehensive inspection at a restaurant in downtown Buenos Aires after receiving a complaint about the display of taxidermy pieces of native and exotic wildlife.
During the operation, four specimens were seized without supporting documentation, one of them belonging to a protected species.
The specimens found
In the gastronomic establishment located at 600 Sarmiento, the following were detected:
- Marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus), a protected species included in Appendix II of the CITES Convention.
- Two fallow deer (Dama dama), also known as European common fallow deer.
- An axis deer (Axis axis), known as chital or spotted deer.
The pieces were displayed to the public as part of the restaurant’s decor, but the responsible parties did not have the documentation to prove their legal possession.
Procedure and regulations
The seizure was carried out under the framework of the Law 22.421 on Wildlife Conservation. Participants included:
- The Judicial Investigation Corps (CIJ).
- The Environmental Crimes Division of the City Police.
- The General Directorate of Inspection and Control (DGFyC).
- The Environmental Brigade of the National Undersecretariat for the Environment.
The pieces were transferred to the Undersecretariat for the Environment’s warehouse.
Legal differences between species
- The fallow deer and the axis deer belong to species whose hunting may be permitted under certain conditions, provided the corresponding documentation is presented.
- The marsh deer, on the other hand, is a protected species, and its possession without authorization is the main focus of the investigation.
Consequences for the restaurant
The procedure did not result in the closure of the establishment, which continued to operate normally.
No immediate criminal charges were announced, although administrative sanctions and financial fines could be applied for violations of wildlife protection regulations.
A case that gained public attention
The inspected restaurant was The New Brighton, founded in 1908 as an English tailor shop and later converted into a notable city bar. Its aesthetic with cedar wood paneling, stained glass, and historical objects made it a frequent setting for film and television productions.
In fact, two of the deer heads now under judicial custody appeared in the Disney+ series Nada, starring Luis Brandoni, during a dinner filmed in the historic hall.
The seizure of taxidermy pieces at The New Brighton highlights the importance of complying with environmental and wildlife conservation regulations.
Beyond the aesthetic tradition of the place, the presence of protected species without documentation underscores the need to strengthen controls and raise awareness about the value of biodiversity.
