Exotic Meats: Lion burgers served in Mexico City Market

World
Europe

Mercado San Juan, an old market in the heart of Mexico City, is a place offering exotic meats that some say you could never find at a local grocery store. But is it all legal? CGTN's Alasdair Baverstock takes a closer look.

Mexico City's Mercado San Juan, one of the capital's oldest markets.

Renowned for its unique produce, many merchants here specialize in exotic meats, offering crocodile, iguana and even lion to their customers.

It's a trade that has flourished here behind closed freezer doors.

PEPE PACHA EXOTIC MEAT MERCHANT "We do not display the lion meat because we are not allowed to sell it. It's an animal that is in danger of extinction. It's illegal to sell."

Well, sales ARE legal if sourced from a licensed farm - but the vendors we spoke with didn't want to talk about where their meat comes from and any unlicensed hunting and slaughter of certain protected species is a felony, carrying with it lengthy prison sentences.

Exotic meats are required to come with certificates of origin, but we saw no expectation of enforcement.

JOSE LUIS MESA MERCADO SAN JUAN ADMINISTRATOR "If a lion cub is born in the local zoo, perhaps it ends up getting eaten here. We don't ask the sellers where the meat comes from, because we have no reason to get involved. Questions over how and where it comes from are not for us to know."

Despite repeated requests from CGTN, Mexico's environmental protection and enforcement agencies declined to comment about the meat that's sold here.

Leonora Esquivel is one of Mexico's leading animal rights activists, and says not enough is being done to regulate this underground trade.

LEONORA ESQUIVEL ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST "All of these markets specializing in exotic animals operate behind closed doors, and with complete impunity. We have tried many times to denounce these organizations, and we have never had a favorable response from the government."

Yet the market remains a popular attraction for thrill-seeking tourists and locals alike.

ALASDAIR BAVERSTOCK MEXICO CITY "Restaurants like Los Coyotes here in Mexico City continue to serve up lion burgers to their hungry customers, despite the food's questionable source, saying that as long as there is demand for exotic meats, they'll be here to supply it. Alasdair Baverstock, CGTN, Mexico City."