Environmentalists and animal rights groups are raising alarms about the severe pollution caused by hog farming megafarms operating in southeastern Mexico, particularly affecting indigenous communities. They are calling for international support for their project, S.O.S. Yucatán, aimed at curbing the damaging practices of these farms.
Sofía Morín, legal member of Mercy For Animals Latin America, stated, "Today we raise our voice because 80% of these megafarms have been established in ejidos (communal land) and Mayan communities, contaminations affecting water, air, and soil.”
Local environmentalists have mobilized to Yucatán to gather firsthand accounts from indigenous residents about the impact these facilities have on their lives, particularly because of the noxious odors and swarms of flies linked to the pollution stemming from the pig farms.
The hog farming industry has encroached upon vulnerable communities like Santa María Chi, located near Mérida, undermining the right of these people to self-determination without their consent to the establishment of these farms, which can house around 100,000 animals.
Morín described the situation as critical, stating, "The Maya community of Yucatán is on red alert due to the violation of the human right to a healthy environment.”
A study conducted last year identified 872 potential pig farms, not all classified as megafarms, but many operating with dangerously high levels of pollution exceeding national Mexican norms.
Morín noted, "Some sites exceed the acceptable pollution levels by as much as eight times, posing serious risks to both human health and the ecosystem.”
The environmentalists are advocating for the enforcement of the Ramsar Convention, aimed at protecting internationally important wetlands, particularly those serving as habitats for waterfowl.
This treaty, which originated from discussions held on February 2, 1971, along the Caspian Sea, came actively to life with its enforcement starting the following year.
Activists stress the urgency of international authorities stepping in to objectively assist the indigenous communities of Yucatán, particularly those reliant on delicate ecosystems such as mangroves and cenotes.
Despite presenting documentation carrying 150 signatures from Santa María Chi residents affected by the farms, authorities from the environmental department, SEMARNAT, declined to enter discussions, merely accepting the documents submitted.
"They recognized it as a protest, so they limited their response,” Morín explained, noting the frustration felt by local residents who endure the persistent stench coming from these operations.
Before leaving Yucatán, the activists gathered over 21,000 digital signatures calling for legal actions to protect cenotes and groundwater resources from the extensive harm caused by these farming practices.
Morín added, "We hope the judicial system will enforce the law as our findings indicate severe threats to Yucatán's natural water sources.”
The mission of Mercy For Animals Latin America aims to instigate more compassionate and sustainable food systems, with the long-term goal of terminating animal exploitation altogether.
With operations spread across the United States, India, Canada, Chile, and Mexico, they are now turning their focus toward assisting Yucatán’s communities.
Notably, drones have been utilized to survey some of the farms, spotting operations containing between 60,000 to 100,000 pigs, underscoring the magnitude of the pollution issue.
Morín reported, “The situation for animal welfare in these megafarms is dire, as female pigs are often confined and unable to move even for months.”
Not only do these practices raise ethical concerns, but animals face procedures including castration and tail-docking without anesthesia, which many within the industry regard as standard practices.
Figures indicate the Yucatán Peninsula produces around two million pigs every year, most of which are exported to Asia.
This alarming trend has led activists to urge the judicial branch to step up and safeguard both the natural resources and the welfare of communities affected by the hog farming operations.
