Therians No-Show at Cancún March as Community Seeks Refuge Amid Controversy

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A planned march by therians in Cancún’s Las Palapas park drew no participants, despite no official cancellation of the event. The absence highlights the controversial nature of the movement, which has sparked intense debate on social media.

The therian community, consisting of individuals who identify with animal traits, has polarized public opinion. Supporters view it as harmless self-expression, while critics label participants as mentally ill and have reportedly harassed them.

Clinical psychologist Emmanuel Álvarez del Castillo addressed the controversy, stating that therians do not have a mental illness. “You cannot say these people have a loss of consciousness. They feel identified with an animal—it’s a connection—but they don’t lose touch with reality,” he explained. “They acknowledge their body and mind are human, so they don’t believe in a physical transformation into an animal species. Rather, they adopt this behavior due to a psychological experience.”

Álvarez del Castillo emphasized that humans have a fundamental need to belong to a group, and the rising popularity of therianism is attracting individuals seeking community.

Local businesses in Cancún are capitalizing on the trend, offering animal masks, costumes, and accessories. Tailors have reported increased demand for custom therian attire. Prices for a basic “starter pack” or costume range from 100 to over 1,000 pesos.