Mexico City, Mexico — Rescue efforts to place nearly 200 animals from the Black Jaguar-White Tiger sanctuary continue. The Association of Zoos, Breeders and Aquariums of Mexico (Azcarm) have reported another 90 felines are being placed in six approved zoo facilities where they will be cared for.
In a July 11 statement, the agency said “Zoological institutions and conservation centers of the AZCARM are ready to receive felines from Black Jaguar-White Tiger. Meanwhile, our specialists continue to attend to each of the specimens to nurture, cure and move them forward as soon as possible.”
“All these institutions are ready to receive around 90 felines,” they added. The additional placements come a little over a week after the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) announced the discovery of around 200 mistreated and starving animals in the Black Jaguar-White Tiger sanctuary.
Through a press release, the Association of Zoos, Breeders and Aquariums of Mexico announced that Profepa has already verified the zoos who were willing to accept some of the mistreated animals.
They said that 90 big cats will be sent to verified zoological institutions and conservation centers at the León Zoo, Culiacán Zoo, Morelia Zoo, Criadero Yupendii, Zacango Ecological Park and the Center for the Conservation and Research of Life Silvestre (CIVS) Colima.
Ernesto Zazueta, president of Azcarm explained that everything needed to transfer the animals including containers, trucks and personnel, is ready. The only thing they are waiting on is the legal paperwork, which they say, should be ready in a day or so.
“Fortunately we are more than 90 institutions throughout the Republic and in most of them, we have special programs for the conservation of wild cats and experts in these species,” he explained.
Zazueta added that Profepa continues with the verification of Mexican zoos for the placement of the remaining animals. The zoos being considered need to have confirmed adequate space, management plans and specialists.
The government agency reported they are currently working with the Mexicali Zoo, Chihuahua Zoo, Zoofari, Animal Kingdom, Tamatán Zoo, Africam Safari, Jersey Children’s Park, among others to find homes for the remaining felines.
Since the mistreated animals were found, the Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City adopted eight big cats, four baboons and 10 spider monkeys.