Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas – A stark disparity in public spending is raising serious questions about priorities at the Tamatán Zoo, where animal welfare appears to be taking a backseat to administrative salaries. The zoo’s executive member,Eduardo Rocha Orozco,earns a monthly salary that is three times the budget allocated for veterinary medicines for the nearly 500 animals in its care.
Zoo official’s Salary Triples Animal Medicine Budget
A troubling imbalance in resource allocation is impacting animal health at the Tamatán Zoo in Tamaulipas, Mexico.
- Eduardo Rocha Orozco, a member of the Tamaulipas Parks and Biodiversity Commission, earns 88,424 pesos monthly, exceeding 100,000 pesos with bonuses.
- the zoo’s entire budget for animal medicines is only 25,742.85 pesos per month.
- Over 30 animal deaths have been recorded at the zoo in the last three years, including capybaras, zebras, and kangaroos.
- Despite generating over six million pesos in revenue during Fiscal Year 2024, less than 0.1 percent is allocated to animal medications.
Data from the National Openness Platform (PNT) reveals that Rocha Orozco’s monthly income of 88,424 pesos, which can surpass 100,000 pesos with bonuses, dwarfs the 25,742.85 pesos earmarked for medicines and pharmaceutical products for the zoo’s almost 500 animals. This financial imbalance isn’t simply an administrative oversight; it reflects a broader pattern of prioritizing payroll for high-ranking officials over the basic medical needs of the animals dependent on the state for survival.
The consequences of this underfunding are tragically visible in the zoo’s mortality records. In the past three years, more than 30 animals have died, including capybaras, zebras, antelopes, sheep, miniature horses, and kangaroos. This grim statistic casts doubt on whether current resources are sufficient for effective disease prevention and treatment.
The Tamatán Zoo and recreational Park isn’t struggling financially. During Fiscal Year 2024,the zoo generated 6,965,711.04 pesos through entrance fees, concessions, rentals, souvenir sales, snacks, and the “zoobús” transportation service. Entrance fees alone accounted for 4,726,725 pesos.
However, this ample income isn’t translating into a proportionate investment in animal healthcare. The budget for medicines represents less than 0.1 percent of the zoo’s total revenue, a stark contrast to the significant funds allocated to salaries.Payroll and salaries consumed 26,742,177.26 pesos, while medicines and pharmaceutical products were limited to 25,742.85 pesos, and medical materials and supplies received only 56,825.46 pesos.
Even with over 12 million pesos spent on animal food, medical care remains a significantly underfunded component of the zoo’s operations. The total expenditure for the organization in 2024 reached 42,107,272.14 pesos, encompassing general services like electricity, water, and maintenance.
This budget allocation underscores an administrative focus on bureaucratic structures rather than the extensive well-being of the animals that are the very reason for the zoo’s existence.
What is the salary disparity at the Tamatán Zoo? The zoo’s executive member earns 88,424 pesos per month,while the budget for animal medicines is only 25,742.85 pesos.
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