Zazueta is the owner of northern Mexico’s Ostok Sanctuary and president of AZCARM, the Mexican association of zoos and aquariums. “Ernesto is fully committed to protecting animals from extinction and abuse,” said one person who nominated him.
“He has invested his own resources to rescue animals from abuse and is a great influencer who shares information about the importance of zoos in saving animals from extinction, the role of zoos in connecting people with animals, and the importance of protecting the environment and the effect of human activities on wildlife,” they added.
Ostok will soon be home to 10 of 70 hippos that once belonged to deceased drug lord Pablo Escobar as Colombia is relocating the animals to overseas sanctuaries. “The whole operation should cost around $3.5 million,” said Zazueta (via The Guardian).