The plight of animals that once entertained circus audiences was brought home this week after “Annie,” an African elephant, was found semi-abandoned at a property in the Jalisco town of Lagos de Moreno.
The 30-year-old native of Zimbabwe used to perform for the Atayde Circus but her theatrical career ended in 2015 when laws were enacted banning wild animal acts at circuses in Mexico.
After complaints from neighbors about her condition, officials from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa) checked out the property where she was being kept, concluding that the elephant “did not have adequate facilities.” Annie was then taken to the Guadalajara Zoo, where she will be looked after until a permanent home is found for her.
Profepa said Annie’s condition was not critical but she was “a little underweight, and her muscle tone shows that she has not possibly had the exercise that this species of animal requires.”
Police officers from several agencies accompanied the Profepa personnel during their inspection, since, authorities said, the area where she was kept—presumably by the Atayde Circus—is renowned for its criminal activity.