Unreported World goes inside Mexico's illicit exotic pet trade. Anja Popp investigates how owning a lion or tiger has gone from being the preserve of drug lords, to a mainstream obsession.
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Although you can purchase exotic animals legally across Mexico, many don’t, and it becomes clear pet owners have bitten off more than they can chew, with many resorting to extreme medical practices to make them less dangerous.
Trying to manage the fallout is one sanctuary on the outskirts of Culiacan. Here Popp discovers hundreds of big cats that have been rescued from the black market, while others were caught in the crossfire between their drug boss owners and police. In Mexico City, Popp unravels the dark side of this trade, as undercover investigators expose traders illegally selling rare endangered animals.
Producer/Director: Stefania Buonajuti
Series Producer: Andy Lee
Executive Producer: Ed Fraser
Production Company: Channel 4 News