Profepa explains why it closed the Tizimín zoo; City council minimizes

The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa) imposed a temporary total closure of the La Reina Zoological and Botanical Park, in Tizimínafter an inspection that revealed an alarming accumulation of irregularities ranging from overcrowding and inadequate management to serious failures in the dignified and respectful treatment of the specimens.

The federal agency, headed by Mariana Boy, 95 animals were precautionarily securedincluding a African lioness, margay, spider monkeys and deer white tail

Tizimín City Council minimizes the closure of La Reina

In contrast to the detailed list of abuses and negligence released by Profepa, the Tizimín City Council issued a brief statement in which it avoided mentioning the seriousness of the findings.

It limits itself to pointing out that the temporary closure is due to the detection of “certain anomalies in the infrastructure”.

According to the Profepa statement, the inspection, held from October 13 to 15 in response to citizen complaintsverified the existence of 302 copies, of which almost a third was insured.

Anomalies detected by Profepa in the Tizimín zoo

Profepa’s findings refute the message of commitment launched by the municipality, revealing a abandonment scenario and poor sanitary conditions:

• Improper diet: The food provided to several species did not correspond to what was stipulated in the authorized management plan (PM).
• Chronic overcrowding: Enclosures were found with numbers of animals that double or exceed the authorized number, a problem that directly affects animal welfare.
• Unsanitary conditions: The inspectors detected accumulation of wet, stagnant sludge from drainagewhich could be a source of serious infection.
• Inadequate enclosures: Many cages turned out to be very small, without the necessary light and ventilation, with the aggravating factor of healthy specimens mixed with other visibly sick ones.
• Lack of veterinary control: The zoo lacks veterinary medical records or records for any of the specimens, evidencing zero supervision of their health.

Attorney Mariana Boy was emphatic when stating that properties with wildlife “have the responsibility to comply with the conditions stipulated […] in order to ensure the best conditions for each of the animals found there.”

Version of the City Council on the closure of “La Reina”

While Profepa emphasizes dignified and respectful treatment as the axis of its intervention, the statement from the Tizimín City Council minimized the situation.

The municipal text admits that the Attorney General’s Office concluded the inspection and “when detecting certain anomalies in the infrastructureissued the corresponding observations.”

This version omits serious accusations of animal abuseincorrect diets, overcrowding and unhealthiness, focusing the problem on a mere structural failure.

When will the “La Reina” zoo in Tizimín open?

The City Council assures that the temporary closure is for “correct these observations” and will restrict access to “carry out the necessary internal work and correct the observations.”

However, Profepa has already issued more severe measures that imply the securing animals and establishing corrective measures and service times that must be resolved before considering lifting the closure.

The closure prohibits public access, but obliges the City Council to continue feeding and giving attention and care suitable for the specimens under the new requirements of the federal authority.

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