The Ostok Sanctuary, located in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, has made a radical decision to protect its residents. Unfortunately, it has shut down in the wake of growing assaults by criminal cartels. As for the animal evacuation, Ernesto Zazueta, the sanctuary’s director, was recently able to confirm they evacuated 700 animals to a safer place. This amazing menagerie featured elephants, tigers, lions, ostriches, chickens, monkeys, crocodiles and hippos. The decision came in response to persistent violence in the region, most notably between competing factions of the Sinaloa cartel.
For Zazueta, the most difficult place right now is Culiacan, known as “the hardest zone”. He expressed concerns about the risk employees were exposed to. They continuously faced threats, robberies, and attempts at extortion as they sought to care for the animals in their possession. He continued, “We didn’t have these issues before. Now, it is extremely challenging for us to get to the sanctuary at all. They literally drove us out of there because they had people waiting to shake us down.”
The move of the animals on Tuesday was carried out with the help of hundreds of volunteers and assisted by two dozen organizations. The critters were then transported to a new location, known as “Bioparque El Encanto,” 212 kilometers (about 131 miles) from the original danger zone. That makes this operation the biggest relocation of wildlife in Mexico ever conducted specifically in response to violence.
One of the biggest hurdles in this endeavor was Viki, an elephant with a degenerative condition in her leg. Zazueta lamented that not a single veterinarian was willing to even fly to Culiacan, for fear of their safety. The move was a complicated endeavor that required careful planning and collaboration. This guarantee made their humane handling and well-being during transport to a new location a priority.
As of May 20, the relocation process was well under way. An elephant was fed by a keeper as a lion awaited transport from the Ostok Sanctuary. Given the needs across our country this operation is urgent and essential. Human communities organized crime not only endangers human lives but undermines the region’s biodiversity conservation gains.
The Ostok Sanctuary’s closure underscores a troubling trend for animal welfare as external threats force sanctuaries to abandon their missions. Despite facing immense challenges, Zazueta and his team have exhibited remarkable resilience. They are committed to giving these animals the best possible care in a more secure environment.
