Lions Tigers and Bears welcomed two new residents on Oct. 30, a coatimundi and a potbellied pig who arrived following a lawsuit by PETA against the now-shuttered Waccatee Zoo in South Carolina.
In the wild, coatimundis live in tight-knit bands of up to 30 individuals and spend much of their time in tall trees. Pigs get bored easily, require significant mental stimulation, and crave the companionship of other pigs. Yet at roadside zoos, animals are often confined to dismal, barren cages and deprived of adequate food, water, shelter, and veterinary care. Baby animals are frequently torn away from their mothers to be used in stressful public encounters, and adult animals may suffer from psychological distress because of constant frustration, loneliness, and even abuse.
“At their new sanctuary homes, these animals will have a chance to thrive in large, lush naturalistic habitats and finally receive the care they desperately need,” said PETA Foundation General Counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet in a press release. “PETA urges kind people everywhere to stay far away from roadside zoos, where animals are exploited for entertainment and denied everything that’s natural and important to them.”
According to the lawsuit, Waccatee denied animals adequate shelter from the elements, space, and security and failed to provide other animals with adequate nutrition. After the lawsuit was filed, Waccatee began secretly transferring animals out of the facility, including to Zootastic Park, a roadside zoo in North Carolina. The coatimundi, the potbellied pig, and a cougar have now been removed from Zootastic Park by PETA and transferred to accredited sanctuaries, bringing the total number of animals rescued by PETA from Waccatee to 12. The cougar was transferred to Carolina Tiger Rescue in North Carolina. PETA’s lawsuit led to a settlement agreement, which resulted in Waccatee’s closure and bans on its operators from owning or exhibiting wild animals, breeding or exploiting domestic animals for profit, and working or volunteering at other roadside zoos.