Zoo Director In Mexico Had Four Of Its Animals Killed And Served At Christmas Party, Police Say

A former zoo director in southern Mexico killed four kids during Christmas dinner.

José Rubén Nava was replaced as director of the Chilpancingo Zoo on January 12 after the deer died, authorities said Tuesday.

According to the officer, the investigation revealed that M. Nava allegedly ordered various zoo collectibles to be sold, traded, or eaten.

Fernando Ruiz Gutiérrez, director of wildlife conservation for the state Department of the Environment, said that years later, Nava ordered four rooster chicks killed and cooked for a feast.

“These four animals were slaughtered and cooked at the zoo and served as food at New Year's Eve parties,” he said.

"Because these animals are unfit for human consumption, they endanger the health of those who eat them."

The administration also said the zebras were being sold as equipment, but no equipment was found at the zoo during a subsequent inspection.

Authorities said the Watusi deer and cattle were sold to people without proper accounting.

There have been several cases of illegal acquisition of exotic animals in Mexico.

In a separate incident on Tuesday, police in the central city of Aguascalientes said a lion was on the loose to attack and injure a woman on the terrace of her home.

The lion attacked two dogs and a cat and appeared to have escaped from a nearby house.

The woman, who suffered injuries to her legs, skull and lungs, was hospitalized.

The lion was captured on Tuesday and taken to the local zoo.

The Mexican capital has long been considered a major hub for the illegal wildlife trade.

Mexico's environmental protection agency, PROFEPA (Oficina Federal del Medio Ambiente), reports that the number of animals seized in 2021 increased by 660 percent between 2019 and 2020.

According to the Living Planet Report, the number of animals in Latin America has decreased by 83% since the 1970s.

While the country is home to about 12 percent of plant species, these animals are increasingly threatened by trade and habitat loss.

(Additional agency report)