Animal welfare violations swarm Miami zoo owned by ex-drug kingpin in Tiger King An endangered clouded leopard suffered a leg amputation, and a capybara died at the Zoological Wildlife Foundation (ZWF), a Miami roadside zoo owned by convicted drug trafficker Mario Tabraue. Federal wildlife inspectors cited critical violations of the Animal Welfare Act following these January incidents, which occurred during attempted breeding. The zoo also faces scrutiny for other issues including unsafe housing and contaminated animal living conditions.

• An endangered clouded leopard’s leg was amputated after being mauled by a male during a breeding attempt at ZWF.
• A capybara died after being housed with a male for breeding purposes at the same facility.
• Federal inspectors found multiple violations at ZWF, including dilapidated housing, filthy cages, and contaminated food and water.
• ZWF is owned by Mario Tabraue, a convicted drug trafficker featured in the Netflix documentary Tiger King.
• Animal welfare groups are calling for the closure of ZWF due to these incidents and a history of violations.
• The USDA cited the incidents as critical violations and ordered immediate changes to keep incompatible animals separate.