A troubling revelation has emerged regarding the Zoological Wildlife Foundation (ZWF) in Miami, following an inspection by federal wildlife officials that highlighted grave animal welfare concerns. The inspection uncovered severe violations, including the tragic amputation of an endangered clouded leopard’s leg and the death of a capybara, both incidents stemming from hazardous breeding practices at the facility owned by former drug trafficker Mario Tabraue.
Alarming Findings from Federal Inspectors
On 30 March, a veterinary officer from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducted a thorough examination of ZWF, where they identified critical breaches of the Animal Welfare Act. The inspector detailed how Petra, a female clouded leopard, suffered a horrific injury when she reached through a gap in her enclosure to interact with a male leopard. This resulted in her paw being mauled, necessitating the amputation of her entire left leg.
“The clouded leopards did not live together
