Jos├й Rub├йn Nava was replaced as director of the local zoo in the city of Chilpancingo on Janunary 12 following the death of a deer there.
But officials said Tuesday that an investigation found some of the animals in the zooтАЩs collection had allegedly been sold off, traded or eaten under NavaтАЩs orders.
The state environment department said a zebra was traded for tools and deer and Watusi cattle were traded off to private individuals, without proper accounting.
It was not clear if Nava had been formally charged in the case, or if he had a lawyer.
But the most shocking accusation was made by Fernando Ruiz Gutierrez, the state environment department’s director of wildlife.
He said Nava had four of the zoo’s male pygmy goats killed and cooked for an end-of-year banquet.
Bird that lives on just one island seen for first time since 1882
тАЬThese four animals (were) slaughtered and cooked on the zoo’s premises, and were served as food at the year-end party,тАЭ Ruiz Gutierrez said.
тАЬThis put the health of the people who ate them at risk, because these animals were not fit for human consumption.тАЭ
Nava also allegedly traded the zoo’s zebra for some tools needed to fix things around the zoo, but an inspection did not locate any such tools at the facility.
