Authorities claim that a former Mexican zoo director killed four of the zoo’s pygmy gos and gave them away at a Christmas party.
Officials claimed that Jose Ruben Nava ordered an investigation which revealed that some of the animals at the Chilpancingo zoo’s southern collection had been sold, traded, or eaten.
The most shocking accusation came from the director of wildlife at the state environment department. He claimed that Nava killed four male pygmy pygmy goats and then cooked them for an end of year banquet.
Fernando Ruiz Gutierrez stated: “These four animals were slaughtered and prepared on the zoo’s premises and served as food at year-end parties.
“This put at risk the health of those who ate them, as these animals weren’t fit for human consumption.”
According to the state environment department, a zebra was sold for tools and Watusi and deer were traded to private individuals without proper accounting.
It wasn’t clear if Nava was formally charged or if he retained a lawyer.
Nava was appointed director of the zoo after the death of a deer.
The zoo’s Zebra was also traded for tools, but inspections did not find any.
Mexico has had problems for years with illegal acquisitions of exotic animals by private citizens.
Mexican drug traffickers have been known for years to create private menages of lions, leopards and other wild animals. Sometimes they escape, sowing panic.