According to the information shared so far, the incident occurred during the second inspection of the facility by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), while a tour of the facility was being conducted.
The death of a white lion residing at the Culiacán Zoo in Sinaloa was recently reported. It had been reported as a victim of animal abuse at the hands of the institution’s authorities.
More than two weeks ago, an image of the lion went viral. It was found in a room with rusty bars and without enough food, revealing a visibly sick animal, lacking the strength to roar.
Although visitors, animal lovers, and advocacy organizations began to report such cruelty, unfortunately, the complaints were not enough, and it was too late to act.
However, the death of the big cat also exposed dozens of wild species, such as tigers, chimpanzees, Mexican wolves, and many others, who suffer in the same conditions in an institution now accused of abandoning its animals.
Clips of malnourished animals, cages in a deplorable state, and empty water troughs are also circulating on social media. The workers responsible for this complaint requested anonymity and described the scene as “devastating.”
“There is a very powerful reason to do so (report), and that is to protect the lives of all of them; we are talking about tigers, baboons, chimpanzees, antelopes, and many more, including a species as iconic as the Mexican wolf, which is in danger of extinction,” warned Ernesto Zazueta, president of the Association of Zoos, Breeders, and Aquariums of Mexico (Azcarm).
Furthermore, the official lamented the lack of wildlife specialists currently working on the site, a problem that represents a challenge for many species that require specialized care.
Miserables e inhumanos
— José Díaz (@JJDiazMachuca) May 1, 2025
El humanismo de @Claudiashein y su gobernador @rochamoya_ #ÚltimaHora
Se le muere a @PROFEPA_Mx león del Zoológico de Culiacán 🚨‼️
El #LeónBlanco que aparecía en videos difundidos en redes sociales prácticamente en los huesos y viviendo junto a su… pic.twitter.com/HoKS5d2CIp
Source: OEM
