Shivangi Sinha
The reptile trade became a lucrative but controversial business, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s, when the demand for exotic animals grew, and dealers operated on a large scale. However, increased concerns over illegal wildlife trafficking and the impact of the trade eventually led to a crackdown. HBO’s ‘Monsters of God’ traces this history and explores how the reptile business developed, the people who built their livelihoods around it, and the changing legal landscape that followed. Among those associated with this world was Mario Tabraue. His involvement in the reptile trade is also examined, particularly his connection to Ray Van Nostrand and his entry into the lucrative exotic-animal industry.
Mario Tabraue Ran a Drug Business Alongside an Exotic Animal Store
Mario Tabraue was born in Cuba, but he was only a child when his family moved to the US. His father, Guillermo Tabraue, worked in Little Havana and raised his family in Miami, Florida. By the 1970s, Mario admitted that he had started dabbling in the drug business, but his fascination with exotic animals remained a major interest. He opened an exotic animal store and also had a ranch in Miami, which brought him into contact with Ray Van Nostrand, a rising reptile dealer.
In the documentary, Ray recalled that crates used to transport snakes and other reptiles sometimes contained hidden compartments used to smuggle cocaine from other countries. This intersection of the drug and reptile businesses eventually contributed to Operation Cobra and Mario’s arrest in late 1987 following an extensive investigation. His trial began in 1989, and he was ultimately found guilty on 61 counts of racketeering and sentenced to 100 years in federal prison.
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Mario Tabraue is Handling the Operations of a Private Zoo Today
After going behind bars, Mario decided to cooperate with the authorities, providing information about other dealers, high-level traffickers, and money launderers. He was released around 2000 after serving approximately 12 years in prison. From there, he began a new chapter centered around his lifelong passion for animals. Along with his wife, Maria Tabraue, he founded the Zoological Wildlife Foundation (ZWF), a private zoo and animal-encounter facility in Miami’s Redlands area that is home to numerous exotic species and works with organizations and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to rehabilitate animals requiring specialized care.
Mario serves as the President, Director, and co-founder and has repeatedly maintained that his passion for animals came first, while the money he made through the drug business was used to fund it, rather than the other way around. ZWF also offers tours and animal encounters, while Mario uses social media to share his relationships with the animals, from dogs and cats to clouded leopards, cheetahs, tigers, lions, monkeys, and other exotic species. His animals and the day-to-day operation of the facility now appear to occupy a major part of his life.
Mario Tabraue’s Family is Proud of His Life’s Work
Mario first came into the limelight when he was featured on Netflix’s ‘Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness’. At the time, he was commended as one of the more level-headed and pragmatic people whose stories were featured in the series. He gave a different perspective from the chaos surrounding many of the other subjects. His family has remained an important part of his life, with his children and grandchildren growing up around the animals and the work he has devoted himself to for years. Mario has often expressed how grateful he is to have a large family and to find meaning in the work he continues to do.
