In recent times, people have been criticizing zoos for keeping animals in captivity. Many zoos have greatly developed their standards of care for animals.
Still, many zoos are keeping animals captive and instead of relying on money for animal welfare, they rely on cash for profit. These zoos are called
roadside zoos and they are bad for animals.
Roadside zoos are small, non-accredited zoos where wild animals like lions, tigers, wolves, and others are kept in cages and suffer greatly.
These places often obtain animals illegally and keep animals in terrible conditions. The animals living in these conditions suffer both physically
and psychologically. These animals are often bred to produce baby animals but not for conservation purposes. The baby animals are often torn away
from their mothers and are forced into encounters with people. This is very disturbing for the babies themselves as they need their mothers for
comfort and protection but at roadside zoos, they don’t get that at all. They breed animals because baby animals attract lots of attention from visitors,
which in turn increases profit to keep the zoo running. Many animals also exhibit stereotypical behavior like pacing and bar-biting.
Imagine if you were an animal suffering at a roadside zoo. Would you feel depressed, bored, and not be able to express your natural instincts? That's the reality for animals at
roadside zoos. Ungulates are very common at roadside zoos. They mostly suffer from lame or overgrown hooves which can make it hard or even painful for them to move.
Many animals like big cats also suffer from physical injuries and infections. Injuries often go untreated as animals at roadside zoos never get any
veterinary care. In Waccatee Zoo, a zoo that was labeled as the “worst roadside zoo in America,” a tiger named Lila went completely bald and was also
malnourished. PETA pushed to save the animals suffering in this roadside hell and this facility closed on September 12, 2023. PETA rescued and relocated
nine animals suffering at the zoo to reputable sanctuaries where they could get the care they need. The nine animals were two bears, six emus, and a llama.
The best way to help these animals and lots more that are suffering in those facilities is to never visit a roadside zoo. Instead, visit reputable zoos and
aquariums. Look for zoos that are accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) or the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums (WAZA). (Note: Don't go to the 3 SeaWorld parks, although they are accredited by the AZA.)
They participate in breeding programs that help animals in the wild. The money from your visit will also fund wildlife conservation. Want to see animals
rescued from tough situations? Visit an animal sanctuary. Visit sanctuaries accredited by the GFAS(Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries). Many of these
sanctuaries offer tours so you can see their rescues and learn their stories. Also, many farm sanctuaries let you interact with their rescues. You can also
visit national parks to see amazing wildlife and also get some fresh air. By making these steps, you can help ensure that animals are treated with respect
and live in environments where they can thrive.
Some Roadside Zoos You Shouldn't Visit
- Myrtle Beach Safari in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina:
This roadside zoo is run by Bhagavan “Doc” Antle. He has a long history of animal abuse. The facility takes baby tigers and other animals away from their mothers and
exploits these animals for cub petting and photos. When these animals grow big, they are left to languish in small cages. It’s not only these animals that
are exploited in this facility. An African elephant named Bubbles also lives there. She has never seen another elephant for years. She is forced into
an encounter where people swim with and ride on her like a pool floatie.
- Natural Bridge Zoo in Natural Bridge, Virginia:
This Virginia roadside zoo had kept an African elephant named Asha, whom they renamed “Beautiful.” She has spent years without any company of other
elephants. During the winter, she is confined to a cold, damp barn. During the summer, she is forced to walk in endless circles while giving rides
to people in the sweltering heat. In 2023, the facility claimed that she was transferred to a sanctuary, but she was transferred to Two Tails Ranch
in Florida. It claims itself as a “sanctuary,” but it’s owned by the Tarzan Zerbini Circus. This roadside zoo was cited 150 times for denying animals
veterinary care, withholding food from bears, keeping animals in filthy, mud-filled enclosures, and using animals that were too young and too old to
be handled for photo ops. Virginia State Police executed a search warrant at Natural Bridge Zoo. For two days, the state seized nearly 100 living animals,
the bodies of 28 deceased animals—including a tiger who had to be euthanized on-site—and 11 different body parts of animals. Seizure hearings were subsequently
held and resulted in the state retaining custody of most of the animals. The majority were primates, exotic birds, turtles, and giraffes.
- Tregembo Animal Park in Wilmington, North Carolina:
This North Carolina zoo has been monitored by PETA for over 20 years. Many visitors who have been there have documented horrible conditions for the animals
living there which included water receptacles filled with algae and cramped, filthy cages. Visitors also noted the bodies of dead or decaying animals on the
property. One eyewitness found that the owners keep animals, who desperately need veterinary care, in small, cramped cages. His footage showed a limping guenon
monkey, a fox and a donkey with hair loss, and a bobcat who had difficulty navigating up a structure. Many animals there show stereotypical behavior.
A lion named Simba and a giraffe named Jambo are kept in solitary confinement. In 2017, officials, along with PETA, helped move their bears Ben and Booger to a reputable sanctuary.
- Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation in Oroville, California:
This park was named the “worst roadside zoo in the world,” after the Waccatee Zoo was permanently closed. It has a long history of acquiring baby animals
who had been taken away from their mothers. It had been acquiring baby animals from breeders and other roadside zoos since 1995. It also has a history of
animal abuse, attacks, escapes, and fines for violating state and federal laws. Yet, in 2024, it was cited for failing to follow veterinary instructions
for a young tiger named Shyra, who had metabolic bone disease.
- Pymatuning Deer Park in Jamestown, Pennsylvania:
This notorious roadside zoo has been cited for more than a dozen AWA(Animal Welfare Act) violations. It confines bears into concrete pits, with no
opportunities to swim, climb, or engage in any natural behavior. It confined a black bear named Bosco and a cougar named Sister up until their deaths.
Some other violations this zoo had were failing to clean up animals’ waste, failing to maintain a current veterinary program, and also failing to have a
sufficient number of well-trained employees.
What You Can do to Help Animals at Roadside Zoos
- Don't visit roadside zoos. When you choose to not visit a roadside zoo, you spread the message that these places shouldn't exist at all.
- If you ever visit a roadside zoo, do it so only to document conditions. Do you see any flaws with the enclosures? Are the animals pacing, swaying, or showing any signs of psychological stress? Are any animals injured? Send any photos and videos you have to
PETA, any animal rights organization, or a humane society.
- Sign PETA's action alerts to help free animals from roadside zoos.
