An officer opens fire on a bull in the roadway. Photo: Cristiano Couto

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Lawyers for the International Union for the Protection of Animals (UIPA) are hoping that charges will be sought against an officer of the Brazilian Federal Highway Police for breaking animal protection laws when he shot and killed a bull on a highway road in the country last week. The questionable incident and shocking photograph above have propelled the story throughout South American news sources–leading some to wonder if the officer’s actions were justified.

It all began with an accident between a motorcycle and a truck carrying bulls on a highway outside of Belo Horizonte, northwest of Rio de Janeiro. Many bulls were released onto the road after the incident, according to a report from Globo.

When police arrived to the scene, they soon found the “situation with the roaming cattle had became uncontrollable,” and opted to use their firearms on at least one unlucky bull. A spokesman for the Federal Highway Police claims the use of lethal force was justified, believing that “the animals loose on the road would cause more accidents.”

Prior to opening fire, the officer received permission to shoot from the owner of the livestock.

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