The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) secured 119 of the 203 animals housed at the Constitucion Zoo in Culiacán, Sinaloa. This was due to the inability to prove the legal origin of the specimens. During inspections conducted between April 29 and May 1, the death of a white lion was also reported at the site, which had previously been reported for living in precarious conditions and having several injuries.
Regarding the death of the white lion, Profepa stated: "Among the cases from this facility is that of a male African lion that passed away during the second day of inspection. The lion had a terminal illness; the necropsy initially diagnosed it with thoracic lymphosarcoma, which is a type of cancer affecting the thorax and is not visible to the naked eye. Samples were sent to a laboratory for a more precise diagnosis."
In addition to the lack of documentation for the legal origin of the animals, it was confirmed that the zoo had not had an approved management plan by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in the last five years, and violations in the dignified treatment of the animals were identified.
Profepa imposed immediate enforcement measures such as cleaning and relocating the specimens to quarantine, medical attention for those in fragile health, and continuing treatments for certain animals, such as an elderly scimitar oryx and two jaguars. Additionally, it was verified that some animals in the zoo were of advanced age and needed special care.
The Attorney's Office announced that it will conduct a new visit to the zoo to verify compliance with the corrective measures imposed and the legality in the handling of the animals. A week after the initial inspection, the zoo's administration informed Profepa that it is already implementing improvements to the facilities and complying with the indicated corrective measures.
Mentioning this case in the context of a thorough review of various establishments, Attorney Mariana Boy Tamborrell emphasized the importance of ensuring dignified treatment and legality in the possession of wild animals in captivity.
