Animalandia Maya Operated With Official Permit Despite Animal Exploitation Allegations

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — A 2022 government document reveals that Animalandia Maya, a tourist attraction recently raided and dismantled by the State Prosecutor’s Office, operated for years with official authorization despite repeated complaints of wildlife exploitation.

The permit, issued under the administration of then-Mayor Lili Campos Miranda, specifically authorized the business to take photographs with animals. Signed by José Luis Pérez Dolores, then director of Normativity and Environmental Impact Assessment, the permit was valid until September 2025.

According to the document, the authorization was granted after the payment of 1,629 pesos in fees. The establishment was located on Quinta Avenida, one of the city’s busiest tourist corridors.

Animalandia Maya was operated by Félix Sandoval Jaime, who was arrested during the raid. The business offered tourists the chance to take photos with big cat cubs, including tigers, a practice that drew criticism from residents and animal protection groups.

Multiple public complaints highlighted inadequate conditions for the animals and their use for commercial purposes. However, the existence of a valid permit limited the ability of subsequent municipal administrations to intervene, explaining the site’s prolonged operation.

The case gained traction on February 11, when residents — mostly foreign nationals — launched a Change.org petition demanding the establishment’s closure, citing wildlife exploitation in a tourist setting.

On Friday, the State Prosecutor’s Office executed a search warrant, dismantling the operation and ending Animalandia Maya’s activities.

The case raises questions about the criteria used to grant permits for such activities and the oversight of establishments handling wild animals in tourist areas.