Lions, tigers and pumas among 25 WILD animals rescued by police from property

Lions, tigers and pumas were among 25 wild animals that were rescued from a home in Mexico.

Animal trafficking has become big business in the country, where criminals keep big cats and other species as trophy pets.

The latest discovery following “suspicious activity” seen at a ranch in Huixquilucan, west of Mexico City, comes in the same week as a Bengal tiger was found chained in a van left by an armed gang being chased by police in Sinaloa.

In total there were 47 animals that were found a the Huixquilucan ranch with 25 from the wild including a white lion, two pumas, a Bengal tiger, a deer, a grey fox, eagles, an owl and a coyote, according to Mexican authorities, along with seven stuffed animals.

Also found at the property was a container with 14,000 litres of diesel along with pumps which are believed to have been used to steal the fuel from pipelines.

A tiger was among 25 wild animals rescued from the property (Special)

Materials used in the stealing of fuel from pipelines were also found (Special)

And police found wrapped parcels of a substance with the characteristics of marihuana, along with a variety of vehicles including lorries, buses and motorbikes.

Eight people were arrested by Mexican authorities following the raid.

A statement from the authorities read: “A joint action from state prosecution agents and those from federal institutions and the environment rescued 47 animals, 25 of those wild, while there were pumps found for the illicit extraction of fuel, and several vehicles.

“This happened during the search of a property in Santiago Yancuitlalpan, in Huixquilucan, after it was identified as a location where criminal activities were taking place.”

Vehicles found at the property were eight people were arrested (Special)

Meanwhile, separately this week police found a Bengal tiger on the road from Mazatlan and Culiacan in Sinaloa, where it was chained in a lorry being used by an armed gang.

Authorities said that the gang abandoned the vehicle and the tiger, which is thought to be aged around 11 to 12 months, was recovered in good health and is now being looked after at a sanctuary.

And last October many wild animals including tigers and zebras were found at property belonging to the infamous Michoacana family drug cartel.

It is not illegal to own exotic animals in Mexico as long as the owners have the necessary paperwork which requires that they came from a certified dealer and were born in captivity.