arapuca

Arapuca is a traditional trapping device used in the Amazon basin and rural Brazil to catch birds and small animals. The name comes from Tupi languages and broadly means trap. The design typically consists of a wooden frame with an opening narrow enough to guide the target into a concealed chamber. Bait or a decoy is placed inside to lure the bird; when the animal enters, a triggering mechanism closes the entrance or blocks the exit, trapping the prey inside. Mechanisms vary and can include spring-loaded flaps, weighted doors, or platform-based triggers. Materials commonly include wood, bamboo, cane, and palm fibers, and many regional variants exist.

Historically, arapucas were used as subsistence hunting tools by indigenous communities across the Amazon, Cerrado, and Atlantic forest regions. In recent times, they are also produced as artisanal crafts, valued for their carved forms and as decorative objects. Some arapucas are shaped to resemble a bird’s beak or head and sold as souvenirs; others remain working traps.

Legal and ethical notes: Because trapping birds can affect wildlife, many countries regulate the sale and use of arapucas, with protections for certain species. In craft form, arapucas are commonly sold as decorative items, with the trap mechanism usually disabled or missing.