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6d ago

700 Exotic Animals Evacuated from Culiacan as Cartel Violence Escalates

The Ostok Sanctuary, under siege from cartel threats and attacks, relocated its animals to Mazatlan with National Guard assistance after months of planning.

A lioness is carried to a transport cage at the animal refuge Ostok Sanctuary, on the outskirts of Culiacan, Mexico, Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
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A staff member sprays an elephant with water at the animal refuge Ostok Sanctuary, on the outskirts of Culiacan, Mexico, Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
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Overview

  • The Ostok Sanctuary in Culiacan, housing 700 exotic animals, faced armed assaults, death threats, and supply blockades due to escalating cartel violence.
  • The sanctuary's animals, including tigers, lions, elephants, and jaguars, were transported to a wildlife reserve in Mazatlan under National Guard escort on May 20, 2025.
  • Cartel infighting, which began eight months ago after the kidnapping of a faction leader by El Chapo's son, has severely destabilized the region.
  • Staff reported that some animals went days without food, leading to malnourishment, fur loss, and at least two deaths, while threats against personnel persist.
  • The relocation, conducted without public announcement, highlights the broader humanitarian and ecological toll of cartel violence in Sinaloa state.