The 300 kilo (650 pound) feline was knocked unconscious Thursday with a tranquiliser dart and spirited away from the Monte Azul Paulista sanctuary in Sao Paulo state, local media reported.
Yesterday, Folha de Sao Paulo and Globo dailies reported on their websites that Rawell was found in a shelter some 500 kilometres (312 miles) away at Maringa, in neighbouring Parana state.
The site belongs to Rawell's former owner, Ary Marcos Borges da Silva.
The animal was "like a son to me," Garcia told Globo television.
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Da Silva's lawyer told Folha that his client had tried unsuccessfully to take the animal back some months ago, and had now "tried to resolve the situation in his own way."
Police detained one worker at the site where Rawell was found for initially refusing to allow police access to the site, Globo reported.
Police delegate Leandro Roque said that Garcia and Da Silva were now disputing ownership.