A judge in Brazil has blocked a project to build a zipline connecting the famous Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro to a nearby hill, Morro da Urca. The attraction's developer said it would allow visitors to descend from Sugarloaf Mountain at speeds of almost 100km/h (62mph) via four ziplines covering a distance of 755m (0.47 miles). However, the project, which started four years ago, had triggered protests from locals and environmentalists, who argued that the construction work was causing irreparable damage to the Unesco World Heritage Site. The developer is expected to appeal against the decision. Activist Gricel Osorio Hor-Meyll, who led the campaign against the zipline, expressed her satisfaction with the ruling, calling it a huge victory. Opponents of the attraction argued that building platforms for the zipline required excavating the rock on top of Sugarloaf Mountain, a point contested by the company managing the site, which stated they would minimize excavation. The project had previously received approval from Rio City Council and the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN). Following the judge's ruling, IPHAN and the project's developer were ordered to pay 30 million reals ($5.77 million) in damages, emphasizing Sugarloaf Mountain's invaluable nature to both Brazilians and the global community. The proposed zipline, which was reportedly 95% complete, is now facing uncertainty as the legal battle continues with plans for an appeal.