An exotic animal fan was drowned in a bowl of water after thieves broke into his home to steal his three pet toucans.

Police in Realengo neighbourhood, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, say victim Anderson Bruno de Almeida Matos was first strangled before his attackers left him face down in the water.

The birds – worth USD 10,000 each – were part of a wildlife menagerie that the 47-year-old pharmacy owner kept at his home.

None of the other animals – including an owl, a snake and parrots – were taken in the raid.

His body was found on 11th February, according to local media reports.

After the killing, the victim’s friends and family took to social media to grieve.

One post said: “We lost a young and talented pharmacist to crime. Anderson Bruno de Almeida Matos was competent, intelligent, fun, a good friend, a good son, the best boss I ever had.

“Did the monsters who did this know the inside of the house? Any false friends? Someone who worked there? They have to be arrested.”

The victim’s body has been taken to the Legal Medical Institute (IML) in Rio de Janeiro for an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.