Home / Crime and Justice / Roadside Zoo Mishaps: Leopard Loses Leg, Capybara Dies
Roadside Zoo Mishaps: Leopard Loses Leg, Capybara Dies
30 May
Summary
- An endangered clouded leopard lost a leg due to a breeding attempt gone wrong.
- A capybara died from a failed breeding attempt at the controversial zoo.
- Federal inspectors cited unsafe housing and contaminated food at the facility.
Recent federal inspections revealed critical animal welfare violations at Miami's Zoological Wildlife Foundation (ZWF), leading to severe consequences for its animals. An endangered clouded leopard, Petra, had her leg amputated after a male leopard attacked her paw through a gap in their adjacent enclosures during a breeding attempt in January.
Tragically, a capybara housed with a male for breeding purposes was found dead in early January, with ZWF staff suspecting the male killed the female during mating. These incidents occurred despite ZWF's owner, Mario Tabraue, previously featured in 'Tiger King,' facing scrutiny for the facility's operations.
Inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) documented dilapidated housing and contaminated food and water, citing these as critical breaches of the Animal Welfare Act. ZWF, which charges $1,500 per hour for animal encounters, has a history of violations, including a previous citation after a lion cub bit a child.
