Evacuating Animals from Cartel Violence in Mexico
Wild animals are not immune to the violence caused by Mexican cartels. Recently, tigers, elephants, lions, and monkeys were evacuated from a wildlife sanctuary in Culiacan, Sinaloa, as cartel gunmen overran the facility.
These animals had previously belonged to drug lords but were relocated due to threats and gunfire facing the staff. The Ostok Reserve, which houses over 700 animals, faced increasing violence from rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, forcing the staff to flee.
Reports indicated that some animals went days without food, and others showed signs of stress, with two big cats sadly dying due to the conditions. Sanctuary Director Ernesto Zazueta expressed disbelief at the extreme violence unfolding in the area.
This conflict intensifies when cartels clash over power and territory. Civilians, including children, bear the brunt of this unrest. Security analyst David Saucedo mentioned that the warring factions resort to extortion and robbery to fund their activities. Daily shootings and roadblocks have made life increasingly dangerous; parents now check the news every morning just to see if it’s safe for their kids to go to school.
As darkness falls, businesses close early, and police presence seems nearly absent. The sanctuary itself was near a stronghold of the Chapitos, a faction led by El Chapo’s sons, making it a precarious place for the animals.
In this turmoil, exotic animals became collateral damage. They displayed signs of trauma from the stress of hearing gunfire and helicopters overhead. Some of these animals were once kept as pets by cartel leaders, and stories have circulated about a tiger being found chained during a shootout.
The staff endured threats of arson and violence unless payments were made, leading to a sense of dread pervading the sanctuary. Diego Garcia, a rescuer, lamented that “there are no safe places left in the city these days.”
After months of seeking help, the sanctuary finally decided it could no longer wait for government intervention. The final impetus came when one of the elephants, Bileki, hurt its leg, and there were no veterinarians willing to enter cartel territory to assist.
Zazueta reflected on the dire situation, questioning their purpose in remaining if no support came. This led to the decision to evacuate all animals at the sanctuary.
A truck marked with a white flag carried sedated tigers, lions, jaguars, and elephants. Some workers comforted the animals as they left Culiacan, ultimately navigating through a masked cartel presence towards Mazatlan.
The evacuation required months of planning, but at least the animals are safe—for now. Staff hope Mazatlan will provide a real sanctuary, yet there’s an underlying fear that the violence could follow them, spreading like an infection.
