A roadside zoo in the Myrtle Beach area has been closed for good after a federal lawsuit was settled with PETA.
The nearly 35-year-old Waccatee Zoo has been called “one of the worst street zoos in America” by the national animal rights group.
PETA sued the zoo last spring, alleging that its operators abused the animals in a variety of ways, including not providing the animals with enough food and water and forcing some to live in solitary confinement.
The zoo, which was once home to 460 animals, was closed last year as a result of the lawsuit.
As part of the settlement, zoo owners Kim and Jeff Futrell agreed never to reopen the attraction. They also agreed never to own or display wild animals, breed pets, or work in unaccredited zoos or volunteer.
A bear at the Waccatee Zoo in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where allegations of animal abuse were rife even before PETA sued the owners in court
The case against the street zoo has now been settled. PETA calls the agreement a victory for animal rights
The zoo, which was once home to 460 animals, was closed last year as a result of the lawsuit
Following the conclusion of the lawsuit, PETA released a statement: “This victory prevents Waccatee’s operators from ever again abusing wildlife as they have done for decades.”
“PETA is pleased that the survivors are doing well at their new shelter and will continue to ask everyone to help us advocate for all animals still trapped in roadside zoos by never supporting such efforts. ”
Zoo owners have been accused of failing to provide one of their tigers with proper veterinary care, leading to malnutrition and ultimately their deaths.
The Futrells have denied all allegations of animal abuse.
Parrots at the zoo were reportedly confined in “tight, unsanitary cages” where they could barely stretch their wings, let alone take off in flight.
According to PETA, two lions were forced into small cages, which inevitably prevented them from engaging in activities such as running and play that are vital to their species.
In addition, PETA has claimed that the Waccatee Zoo has filed more than 150 complaints with their organization – the most of any zoo and attraction in the US.
In both 2020 and 2021, the zoo was fined several thousand dollars for finding violations during the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual inspection.
Pictures from the zoo regularly showed animals that were apparently doing poorly over the years. Some had serious injuries, others appeared to be losing hair or were so malnourished that their skeletons were visible under their fur.
The zoo grounds are just 10 minutes’ drive from Doc Antle’s Myrtle Beach Safari, run by the Tiger King star, who became famous for his questionable treatment of the wildlife on the grounds and was featured in a Netflix documentary.
In June, Antle was convicted on several counts of wildlife trafficking and conspiracy to traffic in wildlife. However, the Myrtle Beach Safari appears to still be in operation.
Pictures from the zoo regularly showed animals that were apparently doing poorly over the years
Some had serious injuries, others appeared to be losing hair or were so malnourished that their skeletons were visible beneath their fur and feathers
The animals were allegedly kept in cages that were much too small for them, sometimes in solitary confinement
The owners – Jeff and Kim Futrell – agreed never to reopen the zoo or operate a zoo again
The zoo owners could not be reached when contacted them following reports of the permanent closure. Her attorney stressed that his clients’ decision to settle was not an admission of guilt.
“There was no court ruling that my clients were abusing animals,” said Reese Boyd, the couple’s attorney.
He also disputed the accuracy of some parts of PETA’s press release.
“If they want to keep the bears captive, that’s fine.” The bears were in a zoo. If that means to you that the bears were in captivity, then that’s fine. Could the bears roam free on the 707 and maul a toddler at 7-Eleven? No, they were behind bars,” he said.
Boyd filed a letter with the court last year, explaining that the zoo’s US Department of Agriculture license expired in September and its customers chose not to renew it.
“Because of the ongoing costs of this litigation and other considerations, my client has concluded that the only viable option is to close the zoo and cease operations,” the letter reads.
Boyd contended that even before the lawsuit was filed, the zoo was nearing the end of its viable life, although the financial burden of the lawsuit was making it difficult for patrons and a factor in their decision to close.
“Many generations of school children have grown up at the Waccatee Zoo. “It’s sad that the zoo will no longer exist,” Boyd said, according to the Post and Courier.