Latest news with #ErnestoZazueta
Malay Mail
22-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Cartel turf war forces evacuation of some 700 exotic animals in Mexico's ‘Noah's Ark' rescue
CULIACÁN (Mexico), May 23 — Hundreds of animals including elephants, crocodiles, lions and tigers have been moved from a violence-torn Mexican cartel heartland to a new home in an operation described as a '21st-century Noah's Ark.' The transported species, which also included exotic birds, had been housed at the Ostok animal refuge near Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa state, home to one of the country's most powerful drug gangs. The animal sanctuary's administrators told reporters yesterday that for months they had received threats, with a truck and equipment stolen. A tiger is pictured as it is relocated to a ranch on the coast from Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico May 20, 2025. — AFP pic 'We are leaving because we run the risk of something happening to me and my team,' said Ernesto Zazueta, the director of the refuge. In total, about 700 animals were moved by road to a ranch on the coast. 'This caravan of animals is a kind of 21st-century Noah's Ark. But this time, the animals aren't fleeing a flood, but rather insecurity, fear, and anxiety,' Zazueta said. Since September, Culiacán has been the epicentre of a bloody war between factions of the Sinaloa drug cartel that has left more than 1,200 people dead and 1,400 missing, according to official figures. The cartel is one of six Mexican drug trafficking groups designated terrorist organisations by the US. A truck is pictured on the road as it transports an elephant to be relocated to a ranch on the coast from Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico May 20, 2025. — AFP pic Ailing health Regular roadblocks and armed clashes in the region made it difficult for the sanctuary's workers to keep the captive wildlife fed, another reason to relocate them. 'The animals' health began to suffer,' Zazueta said, adding that at least a tonne of beef and chicken was needed every three days to feed the animals. Workers sedated the most dangerous of them, including lions and tigers, so they could be placed in cages for the 220-kilometre road trip. Two large containers and a huge crane were needed to load the elephants onto trailers. The final destination is a site called 'Bioparque El Encanto,' located in the seaside resort town of Mazatlán on Sinaloa's Pacific coast and owned by a local businessman, Zazueta said. Big cats and other exotic animals have long been found at Mexican ranches and other properties owned by drug traffickers, who adopt them as pets but then abandon them when fleeing authorities or rival criminal groups. A lion is pictured as it is relocated to a ranch on the coast from Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico May 20, 2025. — AFP pic Since September, federal authorities have discovered at least 14 big cats, some seized in raids and others found in abandoned houses believed to be used for criminal activities. They were given a new home at the Ostok refuge, whose director said the mass animal transfer sent a 'painful message' about the situation in the Sinaloa state capital. 'If animals can no longer live in Culiacán, who can?' Zazueta said. — AFP
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Even hippos, elephants and monkeys are fleeing bloody gang violence in Mexico's Sinaloa province
Organized crime and violence in the Mexican state of Sinaloa has forced a local sanctuary to close and transfer at least 700 animals – including elephants, tigers, lions, ostriches, chickens, monkeys, crocodiles, and hippos – to a new location 212 kilometers (approximately 131 miles) away. The animals were relocated from the Ostok Sanctuary in Culiacan, a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, to Mazatlan, in the southern part of the state, due to ongoing violence, according to sanctuary director Ernesto Zazueta. In recent months, violence between rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel has surged across the state in northwestern Mexico, particularly in Culiacan. According to Zazueta, this is the largest relocation of wildlife in Mexico ever carried out due to violence. Zazueta stated that the sanctuary closed due to threats to staff, robberies, and extortion attempts from criminal groups. Zazueta told CNN that sanctuary staff, along with volunteers and supporting organizations, relocated the animals on Tuesday to a site called 'Bioparque El Encanto.' 'Culiacan is the toughest area. We had never had problems in other occasions, but nowadays it became very difficult for us to even reach the sanctuary. They practically chased us out of the place because there were people who wanted to extort us,' Zazueta said. Zazueta said the sanctuary came to its decision after one of its elephants, named Viki, had a problem with her leg and the staff realized that no veterinarian was willing to make the trip to Culiacan due to safety concerns.
CNN
22-05-2025
- CNN
Even hippos, elephants and monkeys are fleeing bloody gang violence in Mexico's Sinaloa province
Organized crime and violence in the Mexican state of Sinaloa has forced a local sanctuary to close and transfer at least 700 animals – including elephants, tigers, lions, ostriches, chickens, monkeys, crocodiles, and hippos – to a new location 212 kilometers (approximately 131 miles) away. The animals were relocated from the Ostok Sanctuary in Culiacan, a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, to Mazatlan, in the southern part of the state, due to ongoing violence, according to sanctuary director Ernesto Zazueta. In recent months, violence between rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel has surged across the state in northwestern Mexico, particularly in Culiacan. According to Zazueta, this is the largest relocation of wildlife in Mexico ever carried out due to violence. Zazueta stated that the sanctuary closed due to threats to staff, robberies, and extortion attempts from criminal groups. Zazueta told CNN that sanctuary staff, along with volunteers and supporting organizations, relocated the animals on Tuesday to a site called 'Bioparque El Encanto.' 'Culiacan is the toughest area. We had never had problems in other occasions, but nowadays it became very difficult for us to even reach the sanctuary. They practically chased us out of the place because there were people who wanted to extort us,' Zazueta said. Zazueta said the sanctuary came to its decision after one of its elephants, named Viki, had a problem with her leg and the staff realized that no veterinarian was willing to make the trip to Culiacan due to safety concerns.
CNN
22-05-2025
- CNN
Even hippos, elephants and monkeys are fleeing bloody gang violence in Mexico's Sinaloa province
Organized crime and violence in the Mexican state of Sinaloa has forced a local sanctuary to close and transfer at least 700 animals – including elephants, tigers, lions, ostriches, chickens, monkeys, crocodiles, and hippos – to a new location 212 kilometers (approximately 131 miles) away. The animals were relocated from the Ostok Sanctuary in Culiacan, a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, to Mazatlan, in the southern part of the state, due to ongoing violence, according to sanctuary director Ernesto Zazueta. In recent months, violence between rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel has surged across the state in northwestern Mexico, particularly in Culiacan. According to Zazueta, this is the largest relocation of wildlife in Mexico ever carried out due to violence. Zazueta stated that the sanctuary closed due to threats to staff, robberies, and extortion attempts from criminal groups. Zazueta told CNN that sanctuary staff, along with volunteers and supporting organizations, relocated the animals on Tuesday to a site called 'Bioparque El Encanto.' 'Culiacan is the toughest area. We had never had problems in other occasions, but nowadays it became very difficult for us to even reach the sanctuary. They practically chased us out of the place because there were people who wanted to extort us,' Zazueta said. Zazueta said the sanctuary came to its decision after one of its elephants, named Viki, had a problem with her leg and the staff realized that no veterinarian was willing to make the trip to Culiacan due to safety concerns.
CNN
22-05-2025
- CNN
Even hippos, elephants and monkeys are fleeing bloody gang violence in Mexico's Sinaloa province
Organized crime and violence in the Mexican state of Sinaloa has forced a local sanctuary to close and transfer at least 700 animals – including elephants, tigers, lions, ostriches, chickens, monkeys, crocodiles, and hippos – to a new location 212 kilometers (approximately 131 miles) away. The animals were relocated from the Ostok Sanctuary in Culiacan, a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, to Mazatlan, in the southern part of the state, due to ongoing violence, according to sanctuary director Ernesto Zazueta. In recent months, violence between rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel has surged across the state in northwestern Mexico, particularly in Culiacan. According to Zazueta, this is the largest relocation of wildlife in Mexico ever carried out due to violence. Zazueta stated that the sanctuary closed due to threats to staff, robberies, and extortion attempts from criminal groups. Zazueta told CNN that sanctuary staff, along with volunteers and supporting organizations, relocated the animals on Tuesday to a site called 'Bioparque El Encanto.' 'Culiacan is the toughest area. We had never had problems in other occasions, but nowadays it became very difficult for us to even reach the sanctuary. They practically chased us out of the place because there were people who wanted to extort us,' Zazueta said. Zazueta said the sanctuary came to its decision after one of its elephants, named Viki, had a problem with her leg and the staff realized that no veterinarian was willing to make the trip to Culiacan due to safety concerns.
