Elephants And Monkeys Are Fleeing Bloody Gang Violence in Mexico’s Sinaloa

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

The animals were relocated from the Ostok Sanctuary in Culiacan, a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa

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.

this is the largest relocation of wildlife in Mexico ever carried out due to violence.

the sanctuary closed due to threats to staff, robberies, and extortion attempts from criminal groups.

Elephant meat from the management exercise will be distributed to local communities while ivory will be State property that will be handed over to the Zimparks

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

the sanctuary came to its decision after one of its elephants, named Viki, had a problem with her leg

the staff realized that no veterinarian was willing to make the trip to Culiacan due to safety concerns.

The management quota is meant to address the growing elephant population in the region and will initially target 50 elephants

According to the 2024 aerial survey, there are 2,550 elephants against an ecological carrying capacity of 800 elephants in Save Valley Conservancy.

Compiled by

World Travel News, Gorilla Trekking Uganda and Gorilla Trekking Rwanda