Overview

• The Ostok Sanctuary relocated 700 exotic animals, including tigers, lions, and elephants, from Culiacan to Mazatlan due to escalating cartel violence.
• The sanctuary faced armed attacks, death threats, and supply blockades over eight months, endangering both staff and animals.
• Cartel violence in Culiacan intensified after a son of Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán kidnapped a rival leader, fracturing the Sinaloa Cartel and sparking a bloody power struggle.
• Staff reported animals suffering from malnutrition, stress, and neglect, with at least two deaths and signs of trauma among others.
• The relocation was executed without public announcement to avoid reprisals, but fears persist that cartel violence could follow the animals to Mazatlan.