México: Empresas de turismo encadenan a jaguares para que se tomen ‘selfies’ con turistas en Cancún

Fecha Actualización

05/03/2020 - 12:05

Steve Winter, fotógrafo de National Geographic ha condenado a través de sus redes sociales las conductas abusivas que las agencias de turismo en Cancún tienen contra los jaguares, sin importarles su bienestar.

En su red social, Winter ha publicado una serie de fotografías que dejan ver el maltrato que reciben estos felinos y acusa a los operadores de turismo de maltrato y explotación.

“Conductores de motos de agua y un grupo de turistas se alista para bucear con dos jaguares mansos en Cancún, México. La gente necesita saber más sobre el comercio y la industria de «selfies» con los felinos grandes”, se lee en una de las publicaciones del fotógrafo.

“Desde Tailandia a Sudáfrica, éstos generalmente representan la cara visible del comercio de vida salvaje. Si ves a tus amigos o familia haciéndose parte de actividades como la de esta foto, o acariciando a cachorros, háganles saber que estos negocios están generalmente relacionados a programas de crianza e intercambio ilegal de partes de sus cuerpo y de cachorros”, agregó Winter quien realizó esta denuncia como un llamado a sus seguidores para que no contraten estos servicios.

En una de las imágenes que publicó se aprecia a dos jaguares estar encadenados a uno de los botes de estas empresas. “Hay muchísimo dolor, trauma y abuso para poder mantener a estos animales aptos para el contacto humano. Los felinos grande no evolucionaron para ser ‘amigos’ de la gente, o para ser abrazados y tocados”, concluyó.

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@natgeo photo by @stevewinterphoto A jaguar surfaces after attempting to kill a caiman in Brazil’s Pantanal. Jaguars are the most aquatic big cats and they have no fear of chasing after and killing caiman and capybara in deep rivers. The ecotourism value of jaguars is about 6x higher than the damage they cause to cattle ranchers. It pays to keep them around because they are a revenue generator for farmers and tourism operators alike. Follow me @stevewinterphoto for more wildlife shots around the world ???? . . . . . #jaguar #jaguars #tourism #ecotourism #valuable #ecosystem #brazil #pantanal

Una publicación compartida de Steve Winter (@stevewinterphoto) el 17 Ene, 2020 a las 5:49 PST

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@natgeo photo by @stevewinterphoto Two jaguars sit chained in a boat in Cancun, Mexico. Wildlife exploitation practices like this are common around the world and it is important for us to be on the lookout for dodgy tourism operations that promote animal selfies! This must stop and it is our responsibility as tourists to not engage in taking pictures with animals. I always ask myself why we do this? It may be a seemingly cool thing to do (take a selfie with a tiger or a leopard or elephant) but there is so much pain, trauma and animal abuse that goes into keeping these animals human friendly. Big cats did not evolve to be "friends" with people, to be cuddled and to be cuddled and touched. My new story with @sharon.guynup shows how captive tigers are being exploited across the USA and selfies with tigers are leading to more and more cubs being bred in facilities in places like Florida and Texas. Please be on the lookout for animal photo tourism operations in the USA and abroad (especially in South Africa) and know that there is a very high likelihood that the laces offering you big cat selfies are linked to dubious breeding operations and even commercial trophy hunting operations. Join hands with me in the fight against this malpractice! . . . . . #jaguar #animalselfie #stopanimalselfies #noanimalselfies #wildlifecruelty #animalcruelty #stopwildlifecrime

Una publicación compartida de Steve Winter (@stevewinterphoto) el 18 Ene, 2020 a las 3:11 PST

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@natgeo photo by @stevewinterphoto ?? JetSki drivers and their tourists get ready to dive with 2 tame jaguars ?? in #cancun Mexico. People need to know more about the trade and selfie industry with big cats. From Thailand to South Africa, big cats often represent the face of the wildlife trade. If you see your friends or family partaking in activities like in this picture or petting cubs let them know that such businesses are often linked to breeding programs, illegal trade in body parts and cubs. Check out my @natgeo story on captive tigers ?? in the USA in the December issue of he magazine (link in bio) to learn more ???? . . . . . #cubpetting #wildlifeselfies #selfie #wildlifetrade #animalcruelty #jaguar #stopthetrade #wild

Una publicación compartida de Steve Winter (@stevewinterphoto) el 27 Ene, 2020 a las 2:35 PST

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@Natgeo photo by @stevewinterphoto A male jaguar swims through the river in search of black caiman in Brazil’s Pantanal. This jungle and river matrix is home to arguably the worlds most aquatic population of jaguars in all of their range (Arizona to Argentina). They fish, tackle massive 90 kg plus capybaras and even wrestle with caiman. They are larger than leopards (by about 35%) and their affinity to water allows them to open up a variety of foods that classically are difficult to catch for other big cats. This adaptability has served them well and they are even thriving on coastal beaches in Costa Rica where they eat turtles ?? follow me @stevewinterphoto for more shots of cats around the world ???? . . . . . #jaguar #watercat #cats #catgram #catsofinstagram #jaguars #panthera #bigcat

Una publicación compartida de Steve Winter (@stevewinterphoto) el 22 Ene, 2020 a las 1:33 PST