Nowhere is safe from the reach of cartel violence in Mexico.

This week, tigers, elephants, lions, and monkeys were moved from a wildlife refuge in Culiacán, Sinaloa, a city known for its cartel presence.

The animals, some of whom were previously owned as pets by drug lords, were relocated to another facility following threats and gunfire directed at staff, indicating a complete breakdown of law and order.

According to the Associated Press, the Ostok Sanctuary, home to over 700 animals, was forced to evacuate after enduring months of violence and intimidation from rival factions within the Sinaloa Cartel.

Some animals went without food for days, while others displayed fur loss due to stress. Tragically, two big cats died.

“We’ve never witnessed such extreme violence,” sanctuary Director Ernesto Zazueta stated to the AP.

This situation is a direct consequence of cartels controlling the region while the government remains inactive.

For years, Culiacán was firmly under the control of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world’s most powerful criminal organizations. This “order” collapsed when a son of El Chapo Guzmán kidnapped a leader from a rival cartel and turned him over to U.S. authorities.

Now, cartels are engaged in fierce territorial battles, with civilians, including children and families, bearing the brunt of the violence.

Security analyst David Saucedo informed the AP that the warring factions are resorting to “extortion, kidnapping, and robbery” to finance their conflict. Roads are blocked, and shootings occur almost daily. Parents are forced to check the news each morning to assess the safety of sending their children to school.

As night descends, the streets become deserted, bars close, and businesses shut down. The police presence is notably absent.

The animal refuge was situated near Jesús María, a stronghold of the Chapitos, the faction led by El Chapo’s sons, making it a perilous location to operate.

According to the UK’s Mirror, exotic animals were caught in the crossfire, with tigers, lions, and even elephants exhibiting signs of trauma from the sound of gunfire and nearby helicopters.

Some of the animals were previously owned by cartel leaders. One tiger was discovered chained in a plaza during a shootout. Local rumors suggest that drug lords feed their enemies to their pet lions, a disturbing indication of the extent of the crisis.

Staff members reported receiving threats to burn down the sanctuary and kill the animals if payments were not made.

“There’s nowhere safe left in this city,” rescuer Diego García told the AP.

Despite months of pleas for assistance, the sanctuary received no support from the government. No authorities intervened to protect the animals or the staff.

The breaking point occurred when one of the sanctuary’s elephants, Bireki, sustained a foot injury. Neither local veterinarians nor those from the U.S. were willing to venture into cartel territory to provide treatment.

“We asked ourselves, ‘What are we doing here?’” Zazueta told the AP. “If we don’t leave, who will care for them?”

This prompted the quiet decision to evacuate not only the elephant but every animal on the premises.

Trucks displaying white flags were loaded with sedated tigers, lions, jaguars, and elephants. Some workers spoke calmly to the animals, attempting to alleviate their stress. The convoy departed Culiacán, passing masked cartel lookouts on motorbikes, and headed towards Mazatlán.

The evacuation required months of training and planning, but the animals were successfully moved, at least for now.

Sanctuary staff are hoping that Mazatlán will offer a genuine refuge. However, they are aware that cartel violence has spread rapidly, and they fear it may follow them.

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