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Drug Lords in Ecuador are Building “Narco-Zoos” at the Expense of Animals

Recently, a pair of jaguars were discovered languishing in a cage on a ranch, shedding light on a disturbing new trend among Ecuador’s drug lords. Drawing inspiration from the notorious Colombian cocaine baron Pablo Escobar, these criminals are now constructing private, illegal zoos as a twisted status symbol. The incident, which unfolded in May, showcased two endangered jaguars perched on a log, imprisoned within iron bars on a property owned by Wilder Sanchez Farfan, infamously known as “Gato” (The Cat). Farfan, a suspected drug lord with connections to Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation cartel, was subsequently arrested in Colombia, with the U.S. Treasury Department labeling him as “one of the most significant drug traffickers in the world.”

Source: AFP News Agency/YouTube

However, the shocking discovery extended beyond the jaguars. Authorities also found a menagerie of parrots, parakeets, and various exotic birds believed to have been imported from China and South Korea. This “narco zoo” phenomenon, according to Darwin Robles, the head of the police’s Environmental Protection Unit (UPMA), has gained prominence in recent years, coinciding with the surge of the underground drug trade in Ecuador. “Where there is drug trafficking, you can be sure that there will be wildlife trafficking,” Robles told AFP.

But what drives these drug lords to establish their illicit zoos? “To demonstrate their power, their purchasing power, their economic capacity,” explains Robles. It’s a chilling manifestation of wealth and influence in the criminal underworld.

Ecuador has suffered the consequences of this alarming trend. With its geographical location between major cocaine producers Colombia and Peru, Ecuador has evolved from a mere transit point for drug trafficking into a hub of its own, accompanied by a surge in violent crime.

As for the unfortunate creatures ensnared in these “narco zoos,” some, like the jaguars and birds found on Farfan’s property, have been rescued and sent to rehabilitation centers for medical attention. However, many animals cannot be returned to their natural habitats.

Police have unearthed various other animals, from turtles and snakes to furs and animal heads, on properties belonging to drug kingpins. An anonymous official from the U.S.-based Wildlife Conservation Society reveals, “Having an animal is a status symbol… It demonstrates an individual’s rank within a network” of organized crime. This official, fearful of retaliation from trafficking groups, highlights the prestige associated with owning majestic creatures like jaguars. In Ecuador, wildlife trafficking carries a penalty of up to three years in prison, a relatively lenient punishment compared to its neighboring countries. Notably, after Pablo Escobar’s demise in 1993, his private collection of exotic animals, including flamingos, giraffes, zebras, and kangaroos, was relocated to zoos.

Nonetheless, a troubling legacy remains. Escobar’s herd of “cocaine hippos” has multiplied unchecked in northwestern Colombia, now numbering around 160, posing a significant challenge to local ecosystems. These massive creatures, devoid of natural predators in the region, consume vast amounts of vegetation and pollute rivers with their waste.

Ecuador now faces the looming threat of its drug lords leaving a similar negative environmental footprint. The consequences of this sinister trend are already evident at the Tueri Wildlife Hospital in Quito, where a variety of animals, from wild cats to monkeys, porcupines, parrots, and owls, are treated after being victims of trafficking. Many arrive malnourished and injured, with a distressing number not surviving their ordeal. Others must spend their lives in shelters as they have lost the ability to survive in the wild.

In a heartbreaking incident, a monkey was found dead in a “bullet-proof” vest after a cartel shootout in Mexico last year. This highlights the tragic consequences of the illegal wildlife trade.

Luckily, one shelter for animals who are unable to be rewilded is Jardin Alado Ilalo in Quito. Here animals with amputated wings, claws, and deep psychological damage are cared for. Cecilia Guana, responsible for parrots and other birds at the center, explains that these animals no longer identify as their natural selves and must remain in such facilities. The seizure of parrots, monkeys, snakes, and jaguars from these “narco-zoos” reveals the dark underbelly of the exotic animal trade. Ecuador’s growing role in cocaine exports to the United States and Europe, coupled with this emerging trend, underscores the escalating drug-related violence in the nation.

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