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Roadside Zoo News
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Union Ridge Wildlife Center owner Cy Vierstra hid Tonka the chimp from PETA while facing 12 felonies
Cy Vierstra of Union Ridge Wildlife Center hid Tonka the chimp for Tonia Haddix while facing 12 felony charges for embezzlement.
Jun 13, 2022


Judge compares endangered animal mistreatment to child porn in Special Memories Zoo lawsuit
Special Memories Zoo is closed but now an appeals court will decide if Dona Wheeler and Gretchen Crowe must pay more than $70,000 in fees.
Jun 8, 2022


Jeff and Lauren Lowe ordered to pay $96,000 in fines for contempt
Jeff and Lauren Lowe of the now-defunct Tiger King Park have been ordered to pay a $96,000 fine for contempt of court.
Jun 3, 2022


Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary argues ALDF lawsuit should be dismissed
Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary is arguing a lawsuit brought by Animal Legal Defense Fund should be dismissed for lack of standing.
May 25, 2022


Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary's tigers are in trouble
Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bend, Wisconsin, is starting up the next Tiger King roadside zoo.
May 20, 2022


Cicchelli Second Chance Rescue and Exotics cited again; records show their animals aren't rescued
Cicchelli Second Chance Rescue and Exotics is not rescuing their animals at all, records show, and they've now been cited 29 times.
May 19, 2022


Fox escapes during inspection: Animal Haven Zoo hit with four violations after $6.4K fine
Animal Haven Zoo was cited for a loose lemur and a fox that escaped during a recent inspection; one month after being fined $6.4K.
May 12, 2022


Two dozen animals had no water to drink at East Texas Zoo and Gator Park, feds say
East Texas Zoo and Gator Park owner Jason Clay has been cited by feds for failing to give water to 24 animals and other violations.
May 10, 2022


Franklin Drive Thru Safari implicated in wildlife trafficking–again
Franklin Drive Thru Safari in Franklin, Texas, has again been implicated in wildlife trafficking, USDA records indicate.
May 2, 2022


Single Vision cited by the feds for dangerous wild animal interactions and other violations
Single Vision in Melrose, Florida, has again been cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a number of violations including...
Apr 29, 2022


Jeff Lowe of Tiger King ordered to pay PETA $183K
A judge has ordered Jeff Lowe of Tiger King infamy to pay $183K to PETA for their successful Endangered Species Act lawsuit.
Apr 19, 2022


Two years after Special Memories Zoo fire, debate over legal fees continues
On the anniversary of a fire that killed 35 animals at Special Memories Zoo the debate over whether the zoo must pay legal fees continues.
Mar 24, 2022


A chimpanzee disappeared from DeYoung Family Zoo in the past three months, records show
DeYoung Zoo has made another endangered species disappear, this time a chimpanzee. More than 50 animals have disappeared from DeYoung Zoo.
Mar 22, 2022


Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary sued by Animal Legal Defense Fund
Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary has been sued by Animal Legal Defense Fund for violating the Endangered Species Act.
Mar 16, 2022


Texas cold snap kills a young giraffe at The Exotic Resort Zoo
A young giraffe named JJ lasted only seven weeks at The Exotic Resort Zoo in Johnson City, Texas, before dying.
Feb 6, 2022


B.W. Ferris is the wrong choice for Van Zandt County Judge
B.W. Ferris of Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary is the wrong choice for Van Zandt Judge. Read these articles before casting your ballot.
Feb 5, 2022


Report shows aftermath of Naples Zoo tiger mauling
Photographs show the graphic aftermath of a tiger mauling that resulted in the shooting death of Eko the tiger at the Naples Zoo.
Feb 4, 2022


Eight animals rescued from a Pennsylvania roadside zoo have made it to sanctuary
Eight animals have been rescued from Pymatuning Deer Park in Jamestown, PA, and have been placed at an accredited sanctuary.
Feb 2, 2022


Two Texas roadside zoos finish out 2021 with 26 violations and an Official Warning
East Texas Zoo and Gator Park and Franklin Drive Thru Safari, owned by Jason Clay, finished 2021 with 26 violations and an Official Warning.
Jan 24, 2022


74 violations yield a 21 day suspension at Water Hole Exotics in Texas
Water Hole Exotics in Odessa, TX, has been cited with 74 USDA violations from May-December 2021, resulting in a 21 day license suspension.
Jan 19, 2022
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