The giant armadillo next door: How ICAS is changing minds in rural Brazil
Posted 14 May 2026
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In the Brazil, perspectives on the giant armadillo diverge. “The older generation has a suspicion that the giant armadillo brings bad luck. They may see one and think that a family member will soon die,” says Lucas Barreto. “And the new generation don’t know about or understand why the animal lives near them. The communities and landscapes have changed a lot, so it doesn’t make sense to them that these animals sometimes walk through their land.”
Lucas is a biologist leading on giant armadillo conservation in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil for the local conservation organisation Instituto de Conservação de Animais Silvestres, or Wild Animal Conservation Institute (ICAS), a partner of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS). His team works in the Atlantic Forest, with their main study site in Rio Doce State Park. They monitor what is likely one of the last viable populations of the giant armadillo in this area by gathering valuable data on local biodiversity. They also spend a considerable amount of time working with local people to increase awareness of the species.
In April 2026, Lucas flew to Scotland to visit his conservationist colleagues at RZSS on their home soil. We sat down with him to talk about his incredible work.
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Contrasts in generational understanding around the giant armadillo is only one of the many challenges that Lucas and his team face when raising awareness. “In general, the people don’t understand much about the species because it’s very rare to see the animal in nature.”
Nocturnal, solitary and naturally shy, giant armadillos are among the most elusive mammals. They spend much of their lives hidden underground in burrows and occur at low population densities, even in suitable habitats. This combination of secrecy and scarcity contributes to a widespread lack of awareness and misinformation about their existence and conservation needs.
However, as villages and towns expand, the distance between people and wildlife continues to shrink. Recognising this growing overlap, Lucas is dedicated to raising awareness and fostering a sense of community, pride and responsibility toward the species, with the ultimate aim being to help protect these remarkable animals.
Community education and outreach is complex, reflecting the multi-layered situation Lucas and ICAS operate within. “We are creating strategies to share new information, murals (like those of ICAS-partnered graffiti artist, Fernando Berg) and working together with people in schools. Different ages, different communities, each need different approaches.”
Lucas notes with deserved pride that he is witnessing a shift in perception and awareness, with locals learning how to spot signs that the elusive giant armadillo may be nearby. “When we start giving information to people on what to look for, they start to think ‘ah, there’s a giant armadillo burrow’ or ‘there’s the mud they’ve dug,’ because we show them photos. It helps build a connection with these animals.”
Beekeepers: An overlapping habitat
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In addition to the general population, Lucas is involved with beekeepers who regularly encounter the giant armadillo. "Bees are often kept near protected areas of the forest.” These protected areas are abundant with wildflowers where bees forage. These same areas are a key habitat for giant armadillos, so the hives end up in the exact places armadillos are traveling through.
Giant armadillos are specialised insect-eaters, focusing on termites and ants, but deforestation has reduced their natural food sources. Lucas gets straight to the heart of the issue: “the giant armadillo has figured out that the larvae of bees is very tasty.”
When food is scarce or hives are easy to access, the armadillo will dig into or topple beehives to get at the larvae. Field studies produced by ICAS have documented that over 70% of surveyed apiaries reported armadillo-related damage, sometimes with multiple hives destroyed in a single night.
The cost isn’t just a loss in productivity for these rural farmers. “One box cost R$500 (£75) if the giant armadillo damages it. If there are five boxes, the insurance for this becomes very high.”
Beekeepers will do what they can to protect their hives, which includes capturing or killing the giant armadillos. Lucas and the ICAS team work to help these communities find alternatives. “One that is very cheap and simple is raising the beehives, about 1.5 meters. It makes it hard for the giant armadillo to damage them.”
Lucas notes the importance of working with the local people and understanding their goals. “For farmers, it’s not about the species, it’s about their product.”
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By promoting best-practice guidance on hive placement and armadillo-friendly protection measures, ICAS is helping farmers to reduce conflict with giant armadillos and protect their hives. In return, farmers can market their product as armadillo-friendly honey. This certification rewards wildlife-friendly farming and turns potential losses into a conservation incentive.
What began as a practical fix for protecting hives has evolved into a broader lesson in conservation, underscored by rising awareness and engagement within local communities through outreach efforts. Lucas reflected simply on this: “It’s about investing in and better connecting people. A big difference comes when we remember conservation is not only about animals or plants, but about the people.”
It’s through collaboration between scientists, communities and conservationists that lasting change for species like the giant armadillo becomes possible.
