The intervention of the Animal Surveillance Brigade (BVA) and the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) in the heart of the Historic Center ended with the seizure of three specimens of wild fauna that were being transported irregularly in the Zocalo of the city of mexico.
According to official sources, two men, from 38 and 41 years and coming from Tamaulipas, they walked with plastic boxes inside which there was a Capuchin monkey, an spectacled caiman and a burmese python; the animals were tied up and inadequate transfer conditions.
How the operation was activated
The police action started after a complaint spread on social networks, among them the account on X “Animal Lawyer”, which warned about the display of fauna on public roads in the area of Zócalo.
With this information, teams from the BVA and the SSC conducted tours of areas near the Republic Square and they moved to the intersection Log y Mount of piety, where they located the suspects with perforated boxes.
The posts on X also pointed out the possible violation of the Article 25, Section V of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law of Mexico City, which prohibits the exhibition of wild species in public spaces.
Arrest in the Historic Center and findings
As they approached, the officers requested identification and carried out a visual inspection according to protocol: in a black box with a yellow lid and holes they found the alligator with its snout tied.
In another similar container a was found Burmese snake (Burmese python), while in a conveyor with a grid was the Capuchin monkey with collar and metal chain which limited his movements.
After informing them that they were incurring in a environmental crime, the two men were arrested and brought before the Public Prosecutor's Office of FIDAMPU to determine responsibilities and open the investigation.
Condition of animals and veterinary care
The specimens were formally delivered to the Animal Surveillance Brigade and taken to their facilities in Xochimilco, where veterinary zootechnicians carried out the first medical evaluation.
The three animals remain under observation; once stabilized, their destination will be defined by the competent environmental authorities, with the possibility of channeling them to the PROFEPA and, where appropriate, to a UMA.
Legal framework and possible sanctions
Displaying or transporting wildlife without permits constitutes a environmental crime in accordance with the General Wildlife Law and the Federal penal code, in addition to local animal welfare regulations.
Authorities remind that sanctions may include high fines, prison sentences, the confiscation of the copies and the opening of files for mistreatment or illegal traffic.
La Animal Care Agency He insisted that paying for photos or shows with wild species in squares and streets encourages abuse and perpetuates these prohibited practices.
Testimonies and calls to the public
According to witness accounts, those involved could have been offering photographs with animals in the surroundings of the Zócalo; these practices are not authorized and put people and specimens.
The authorities reiterated their call to the population to not participate nor encourage the display of wildlife on public roads and report any case by calling 911 or to the official reporting channels.
What to do if you spot wildlife on public roads
In the presence of wild animals in urban contexts, it is recommended to act with prudence and following basic safety and legal guidelines.
- Keep a safe distance and avoid direct contact or handling.
- Make a immediate report to 911 or the local environmental brigade/authority.
- Provides precise location (e.g., Wood and Pawnshop) and description of the scenario.
- Don't give money for photos or shows; that way you won't incentivize activity.
What happened on October 19 in the capital's Zócalo illustrates how citizen reporting and rapid police response can safeguard the integrity of wild animals and activate legal proceedings against irregular exhibition and transportation.
