Deer Narrowly Escapes Car After Playacar Security Scare

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — A viral video circulating on social media, recorded near the Playacar residential complex in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, shows the moment a white-tailed deer nearly got hit by a car on Federal Highway 307 after being cornered and frightened by security guards from the complex.

The incident, which occurred earlier this week, highlights recurring issues with wildlife management in the area and the lack of proper protocols for animal protection by the complex’s personnel.

A Close Call on the Highway

In the video, the disoriented deer is seen as security guards attempt to surround it, seemingly without a clear plan for its safe handling. Panicked, the animal darts onto Federal Highway 307, connecting Cancún and Playa del Carmen, where a pickup truck swerves at the last moment to avoid hitting it.

Fortunately, the deer crossed the road unharmed, but the incident has drawn criticism toward Playacar’s administration for its negligent handling of the situation. The deer’s current whereabouts remain unknown.

Not the First Deer Incident in the Area

This is not the first case involving deer in the upscale Playacar complex, where wildlife faces constant threats due to urban expansion and deforestation.

In May 2025, a deer was struck by a car inside Playacar Phase 2, leaving the animal severely injured. Witnesses reported that the driver of a gray car hit the deer, which was later taken to a veterinary clinic.

Days earlier, on May 18, deer were documented wandering among debris in a deforested lot, also in Playacar Phase 2, as part of construction for the “Legacy by AWA” real estate development.

Illegal Deforestation and Environmental Violations

The project, operated by Inzigna Capital Group, was accused of exceeding authorized tree-clearing limits, displacing wildlife and resulting in the deaths of at least three deer, including a recently birthed female and her offspring.

The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) shut down the site on June 1 after confirming the illegal removal of medium subperennial jungle. During inspections on May 26 and 29, 2025, Profepa officials verified the clearing of secondary shrub vegetation within Playacar.

The responsible company failed to present the required authorization from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) for changing land use in forested areas. As a result, Profepa imposed a temporary total closure and announced further administrative proceedings.

The incident underscores ongoing tensions between urban development and wildlife conservation in Quintana Roo’s rapidly growing coastal regions.