Rescued Mexican animals are sent to U.S. sanctuary

Record ID: 111844

  • Title: Rescued Mexican animals are sent to U.S. sanctuary
  • Date: 4th March 2016
  • Summary: PHOTO OF TIGER
  • Embargoed: 19th March 2016 19:36
  • Keywords: zoo animals sanctuary refuge Denver
  • Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
  • City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA00247IM2IR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Eleven wild animals rescued from substandard conditions left Mexico City Friday (March 4) bound for a Colorado wildlife refuge in the United States.
    Dubbed "Direction to freedom," the mission included six tigers, two jaguars, two lions and a leopard. They departed from Mexico City's International Airport.
    The animals left on aboard a jet chartered by the Mexican Naval Air Force in collaboration with the federal attorney general's office for environmental protection (Profepa).
    In an unprecedented move for Profepa and the Navy for animal protection, workers loaded the animals in individual crates ahead of the flight. They animals will make a stopover in Laredo, Texas, en route to the Wild Animal Sanctuary (TWAS) in Denver, Colorado.
    "Animals that used to live in cages, animals that, the largest space they had lived in during this rescue, was a hospital. That was the habitat they had known, a compartment that does not exceed 100 square metres and now, to move on to hectares where they will behave like tigers, like real lions and cease to be those animals which we met, when they were being mistreated, abused and are now fully rehabilitated," said the head of the rescue unit and wildlife rehabilitation, Erika Ortigoza.
    Established by Executive Director Pat Craig in 1980, TWAS is the oldest and largest nonprofit sanctuary in the U.S. and is dedicated to exotic and endangered large carnivores.
    The site comprises 719 acres (291 hectares), and shelters more than 400 lions, tigers, bears, leopards, mountain lions, wolves and other large carnivores.
    The cats will be kept in several prides as they adjust to the new climate and altitude.
    "These animals are not toys. If they looked nice as cubs, they are never going to lose their natural animal instinct. With this, we are sending a great message to avoid the buying of these animals," said the deputy natural resources of the federal attorney for environmental protection, biologist Ignacio Millan.
    Last year, on August 24, the authorities sent 11 cats and a coyote to TWAS. With this trip, a total of 22 large carnivores living in conditions of abuse and neglect have been rescued by federal authorities.
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