Zoo Director Accused Of Stealing Pygmy Goats And Cooking Them

A former zoo director in Mexico was accused of stealing and cooking pygmy goats who lived at the enclosure.

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Former Zoochilpan Zoo director Jose Ruben Nava of Chilpancingo, Mexico, was accused of stealing and cooking four pygmy goats for a Christmas party. According to Plant Based News, Nava was removed from his position on January 12 following the death of a deer. The death of the animal prompted an investigation into illegal animal trades, including what happened to the stolen pygmy goats.

Furthermore, Nava has been accused of trading a zebra for tools and claiming that the zoo required critical repairs, but the state environmental department has yet to locate the tools. Pgymy goats are typically kept as pets, and the animal is rarely used as a food source. The animals are used for milk but are also kept as a tourist attraction in zoos.

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State Environment Department Director of Wildlife Fernando Ruiz Gutierrez said in a statement that Nava’s actions puts others at risk because the animals were not raised as livestock.

“These four animals were slaughtered and cooked on the zoo’s premises, and were served as food at the year-end party. This put the health of the people who ate them at risk because these animals were not fit for human consumption. The Government of the State of Guerrero endorses the commitment to protect wildlife, as well as combat corruption and impunity, to continue on the path of transformation that the people of Guerrero deserve. For this reason, it is reported that the information derived will be expanded,”

The Comptroller’s Secretary said in a statement that the Zoochilipan Zoo will be immediately audited until the State Attorney General Office takes over the case. It is unclear if Nava had been formally charged for the animal abuse. According to CBS News, Mexico has had its fair share of issue regarding private citizens stealing exotic animals. Drug traffickers were known to build private menageries of lions, tigers, and other exotic animals.

There was incident involving a lion who was on the loose in the city of Aguascalientes and attacked a woman on the patio of her home. She sustained injuries to her skull, legs, and a lung. It also attacked two dogs and a cat but it was captured then sent to the local zoo.