September 23, 2024
“The accident happened at 6 am and a few hours later we got messages on Instagram and WhatsApp,” Valezca Lango Munsuri from CDMX Animal Save, says. “We quickly started to share information about it in our groups and networks for activists.”
On February 3, 2024, CDMX Animal Save received the news that a truck transporting 240 pigs had crashed on the freeway outside Mexico City.
“When I arrived together with another activist, there was still only one person present. It was a very hot day and we brought plenty of water”.
They would need a lot of help to be able to rescue the pigs. Accidents like this have happened before in Mexico City and Val knew how hard it is. When she arrived, the pigs had already been trapped in the truck for six hours, and many were already dead.
“The pigs were all in great suffering. Many were injured, some were screaming. Even if the majority were still alive, we could see that many started to die slowly. The heat inside the truck was extreme.”
But the authorities refused to help the pigs. So instead, the team started to livestream, appealing for more help and asking activists in their networks, and the public to bring water and different tools. Eventually fifty people arrived at the scene, something that really moved Val.
“It is a dangerous area and a dangerous situation on the freeway and still so many wanted to help. Even older people from the neighborhoods came with water for the pigs. People in schools and at their jobs just left everything because they want to help the animals and have a lot of faith in our activist community. It touches me.”
They started to get nervous. It was hard to get the pigs out, even when they tried with different tools. Time was running out and the situation was deteriorating for them. The authorities even stopped some veterinarians who wanted to help, arguing for the pigs to instead go to slaughter.
“When we felt that the situation was getting desperate, a guy suddenly arrived. He was passing by in his car, working for a telephone company. It turned out he had the tools we needed to cut the bars. Suddenly we could start the rescuing of the pigs”.
In the middle of the night, after fifteen hours, they thought all pigs alive were out of the truck.
“But this guy, Carlos Grijalva Velarde, wanted to double check one last time. And on the top level of the truck, he found two more pigs alive under several dead bodies. This time the firefighters helped them out. One of them was very small and tiny and totally silent. He looked into my eyes, and we had a connection. It was hard to keep the tears and feelings away.”
Throughout the whole rescue, Val had tried to keep her composure, to be focused and not too emotional.
“But obviously later when you get home, all the emotions come. A rescue is a mess, and very hard to handle.”
Even today, she doesn’t know if that last pig survived the ordeal, but in total they were able to rescue 73 pigs that night from the wreck on the highway.
“The pigs were exhausted and were just lying there. In the meantime, people were taking out more pigs.”
One of the activists offered to take all the pigs to her garden before they found more permanent homes for them. In cars and trucks, people mobilized and drove all the pigs to her house.
Many of the pigs couldn’t eat or drink normally, being used to the factory farms and its special facilities. Many were also lacking teeth. But with a lot of patience, they managed to feed them all. Not all the pigs rescued that night survived, but those that did have moved to sanctuaries close to Mexico City. Seres Libres took 55 of the pigs, Huerta Vida Digna, two pigs, and Granjita TyH took three of the rescued pigs.
Val can see that it was excellent teamwork that enabled them to succeed, along with commitment and action. Carlos Grijalva Velarde, who stopped to help the pigs, is vegan today and is helping with fundraising for the sanctuaries, and even started joining the vegan community. CDMX Animal Save has also been focusing on debriefing together, led by one of the activists who is a psychologist.
“At my first rescue some years ago, I was very traumatized. We have learned from that, and it feels good to create a space for activists to be able to share their thoughts and feelings.”
Even if some pigs did pass away after the rescue due to their injuries, the survivors are doing very well at the sanctuaries.
“In the beginning they were very scared and traumatized, impossible to touch. Now they are more social, even if some are shy. But they are becoming personalities. They are curious, playful, charming, and intelligent personalities. It is wonderful to see.”
You can find out more about CDMX Animal Save on their Instagram and Facebook pages. To get involved, you can email them at cdmxanimalsave@gmail.com To find a Save group near you, please visit our find a chapter page on our website.
Written by Anne Casparsson
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