José Cláudio Ribeiro da Silva was gunned down while protecting the Amazon forest. He lived his life for his beloved Amazon Forest. He dedicated his life to protecting the Amazon from illegal loggers, deforestation, and ranchers. He became an anti-logging activist as illegal loggers began to encroach further into untouched areas of Pará, his largely forested homestate in Northern Brazil. He and his wife Maria do Espírito Santo, were gunned down and died at the age of 52, and 51. He left behind a 16 year old adopted son and 2 others from a aprevious marriage. He died protecting what he love the most, the Amazon forest.