Latest update on the plight of the Cancun Tigers

The previously approved rescue of the Cancun Tigers was suddenly canceled just a few days before their removal to the US last week.
Please take a few minutes to view the video and contact the officials listed on the website.
http://www.savethecancuntigers.com/index_files/video.htm

 

This is such a terrible situation for those tigers. And it's a perfect illustration of what is wrong with Mexico's laws, the law simply doesn't protect animals, it's a travesty.

There's a press release here:
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayR...STORY=/www/story/09-10-2009/0005092068&EDATE=

Tigers in Cancun Abandoned by Mexican Officials

CANCUN, Mexico, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- If cats have nine lives, then eight Tigers in Cancun are at the end of theirs! The Tigers' story began dismally and has gotten worse since Hurricane Wilma raced across the Yucatan four summers ago.

Pepe's Restaurant in Cancun featured exotic animals like Tigers and Jaguars displayed in concrete and steel cages where diners could view them. Then Hurricane Wilma hit and Cancun - and Pepe's restaurant was decimated. Some of the animals perished, some escaped, and some were found just barely alive in rickety jail-like cells.

After the storm, Pepe returned, but had no money to rebuild, nor care for the animals. He allowed them to sit in their decaying environment. Since 2005, the Tigers have barely survived, drinking stagnant water and eating the meager amount of food Pepe provides.

Medical care? There is none! The declining health of the animals is compounded by obvious neglect. One Tiger moves by dragging her rear legs behind her, often sitting in her own feces and urine.

For a year, The Wild Animal Sanctuary (a 30-year old nonprofit refuge for captive exotic large carnivores) northeast of Denver, CO, has worked with Last Chance for Animals (CA) and Gente Por La Defensa Animal (Mexico), to secure the Tigers' release.

TWAS and its animal welfare partners worked with the Mexican government to rescue and relocate the Tigers to their 320-acre facility in Colorado, where they'll receive exceptional diets, loving rehabilitation, spacious living habitats, and the urgent medical care they need. Mexican officials recently revoked Pepe's permits and scheduled the rescue date in early September. TWAS and its partners put the logistics in motion to rescue the animals, including chartering a cargo jet to transport the tigers to Colorado.

On September 3rd, however, Mexican officials aborted the rescue. Now the Tigers are in even more danger - as Pepe has pledged to kill them or leave them alone to die a slow and agonizing death!

TWAS, LCA and GEPDA are mounting a campaign to convince the Mexican government to reinstate the rescue, asking people to contact US and Mexican Officials to bring swift resolution to the desperate plight of the Cancun Tigers. To help, contact: www.SaveTheCancunTigers.com.

 

This is disgusting. That place has always given me the creeps.
I am e-mailing all the contacts on the webpage. I wonder why it was called off at the last minute!! Typical!

 

Cancun's tigers have been getting a lot of international press in the last couple of days which is great!

But now I am hearing rumors that several large international animal groups are considering pushing for a travel boycott against Cancun until the tigers are rescued. I wish the Mexican Govt would just go in and get the tigers and not let this blow up.

 

Good, this should wake them up for sure!

Its not very likely that they would be allowed so sit on their behinds and watching Cancun visitor numbers drop even lower than they already are.

 

Yucatan Living has some info on their site today regarding the tigers:
http://www.yucatanliving.com/news/yucatan-news-cats-christmas-and-chili.htm

 

Anyone have an update?

The topic concerning the rescue of Pepe's tigers seems to have slipped off the radar, or, I haven't been paying attention. Does anyone know what happened?

 

Not to belittle the subject and seriousness of the obvious intent of this thread, but when I saw it I first thought it was going to be about the baseball Tigres.

Is there any new news on that group of tigers?

 

I will try to find out the latest. But as far as I know NOTHING has happened. It's tragic.

 

This is so f*cked up.

PROFEPA are not lifting a god damn finger in this mess.

They have reportedly even stopped answering their phone (!!)

It was so close last time. Everything was arranged, but then Pepe went bananas and PROFEPA chickened out... as usual.

Last time I volunteered to feed and clean(both the HZ location and the one towards the Airport) at least 3 cats were in very bad shape... Dont get me started on the horse he keeps at the other location

This was in July last year, so Im surprised if they have all survived until now.

Pepe cares deeply about his animals, but he cant provide for them and thus they would have to get them out soon.

My biggest worry is that its too late for many of them