Foreign Residents Demand Closure of Playa del Carmen ‘Animalandia’ Over Wildlife Exploitation

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — A group of foreign residents in Playa del Carmen has launched an online petition demanding the permanent closure of “Animalandia Maya,” a tourist attraction on Fifth Avenue where tiger and big cat cubs are displayed for photos with visitors. The petition, posted on Change.org in English and Spanish, accuses the establishment of animal mistreatment and exploitation.

The petition organizers describe observing panther, jaguar, lion, and tiger cubs kept in captivity away from their natural habitats and mothers during a visit last October. According to their account, workers charge tourists to take photos with the animals, subjecting them to stress by not allowing adequate rest periods throughout the day.

Petitioners allege the cubs may be sedated to facilitate interactions with tourists. Images circulating on social media show the animals in forced positions with apparent signs of discomfort, fueling criticism about their living conditions.

After investigating, petitioners say they found records of multiple complaints filed with Quintana Roo environmental authorities. They note that authorities have previously seized animals and temporarily closed the establishment, but Animalandia Maya has repeatedly reopened and continued displaying cubs of emblematic and sometimes endangered species.

The petition emphasizes the limited global tiger population and argues these animals should be kept in appropriate conservation conditions. The campaign aims to gather enough signatures to request intervention from state and federal authorities, as well as international organizations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Animalandia Maya has a controversial history. Authorities have closed it multiple times for alleged irregularities related to wildlife exhibition, though it has resumed operations through legal appeals. The last public intervention by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) at the site occurred in 2019.

In 2022 and 2023, the State Prosecutor’s Office temporarily seized the property for its alleged connection to small-scale drug trafficking in the tourist zone. The establishment reopened weeks after both closures.

The business belongs to entrepreneur Félix Sandoval Jaime, who served as an alternate councilor in a previous Playa del Carmen municipal administration. On social media, the owner has shared images of the felines he claims to care for. The new citizen petition reignites debate about using wild animals as tourist attractions in one of the Mexican Caribbean’s most visited destinations.