Zacatecas authorities rescue Bengal tiger from drug camp

On 7 August 2026, during the security sweep known as Operation Rastrillo, federal, state and municipal forces in the Mexican state of Zacatecas rescued a two‑year‑old female Bengal tiger from a camp in the community of Niño Artillero on the border of the municipalities of Sombrerete and Fresnillo. The animal was found inside a house used by members of an organized‑crime group. One official report said the tiger was in good physical condition, fed and hydrated, while a later Profepa statement described signs of mistreatment, dehydration, broken canines and severe injuries to its front paws, likely caused by attempts to remove its claws. Profepa transferred the tiger to the Mina Proaño Ecological Park in Fresnillo for veterinary treatment. The operation also resulted in 16 arrests, six armed civilians killed in clashes, the rescue of three kidnapped persons, and the seizure of weapons and other illegal wildlife. The rescue drew attention to the intersection of wildlife trafficking and cartel activity in the region.