Mexico City sanctuary operator sought after 190 animals rescued
A sanctuary on the outskirts of Mexico City operated by the Black Jaguar-White Tiger Foundation was raided on July 4, and 190 lions, tigers, jaguars and other animals have been removed from what investigators describe as “deplorable conditions.” The foundation’s operator, Eduardo Serio, is being sought for what Mexico’s Attorney General calls the extreme abandonment and mistreatment of animals.
The foundation, with offices in Los Angeles, runs the sanctuary in a Mexico City suburb. Aside from the big cats, 17 primates and two coyotes were rescued during the raid, according to investigators.
Mexico’s Association of Zoos, Breeders and Aquariums, AZCARM, put out a tweet denouncing Black Jaguar-White Tiger and its operator for the “extreme abandonment and mistreatment of hundreds of big felines that are in various states of extinction.”
Serio is wanted in connection with those conditions, prosecutors say.
“Eduardo Serio, owner of Black Jaguar-White Tiger is wanted for the extreme abandonment and mistreatment of hundreds of large felines,” prosecutors say.
Independent film producer Arturo Allende, who has more than 3 million followers on Instagram, has spent the past two years working on a documentary about the sanctuary.
“It’s a holocaust for the animals, it’s a crime,” Allende said. He called the sanctuary “hell on earth for the animals.”
Investigators report having material from former workers depicting “hundreds of big felines living in deplorable conditions without food, veterinary care or adequate space to move around.”
“Many have visible wounds, many of the animals are in various states of malnutrition,” according to information released by investigators. “We have horrible testimony that some animals have been sacrificed while others have devoured themselves to avoid starvation.”
PETA has been critical of Serio, calling his operation “just another sham sanctuary making a profit by exploiting animals.” Celebrities including the Kardashians and Paris Hilton have donated large sums to help care for rescued big cats.
According to Serio’s website, his foundation “has been working tirelessly for over four years to rescue, rehabilitate, and preserve Animals through our Foundation. … We work to rescue as many Animals in need through independent rescue missions or by working with the Mexican government.”
