Mexican TV Star Caught Hitting Baby Leopard—PETA Calls For Investigation

A viral video of a Mexican television personality tormenting and slapping a baby leopard is causing outrage.

In the video, Juan Durán—a personality from the Mexican reality TV show Enamorándonos (“Falling in Love”)—is seen gripping the leopard’s neck and hitting the animal’s mouth. Another abuser films the incident and laughs at the juvenile leopard’s agony. It’s clear that the young animal is in distress and trying desperately to escape from the callous humans.

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It’s been reported that the show has separated itself from any further business with Durán after the video of blatant animal abuse made waves online. The video has garnered more than 1.4 million views on Instagram alone.

The whistleblower who released the video—animal rights activist Arturo Islas Allende—stated that he won’t rest until the leopard is sent to a reputable sanctuary far from Durán and the other abuser.

PETA is calling for Durán not only to be suspended from the entertainment industry but also to be investigated for this obviously cruel treatment of a baby animal.

No leopard—or any other big cat, for that matter—would choose to live in a crate or be walked on a leash.

Big cats used for entertainment are only submissive to humans after a lifetime of beatings and neglect that break their spirits. It’s no surprise when these animals finally defend themselves by injuring or even killing their human tormenters.

There have been dozens of attacks by captive big cats on humans in the past decade. In one incident, a tiger mauled his owner’s 3-year-old grandson. A lion killed several dogs and trapped a child in his room, and a Bengal tiger tore off the arm of a 4-year-old boy.

But it’s always the big cats who pay with their lives for simply acting in a way that’s natural to them.

How You Can Help Big Cats

Humans have no business using big cats as props or keeping them as “pets.” They are thinking, sensitive individuals who deserve far better than to be held captive, abused, and exploited.

Using the button below, please help save big cats from exploitation in the entertainment industry.