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10 Worst Zoos in the U.S. for Wild Animals

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Vegan, writer, editor, actor, flutist, animal lover.

Despite the prominence of animal sanctuaries, zoos continue to exist, including in the United States. While many are accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), this doesn’t necessarily mean that all of the accredited places are ethical. The mere fact that the zoos exist is questionable, to say the least, as wild animals are not meant to be in captivity — where they have limited space, fewer socialization opportunities, and visitor interactions that wouldn’t be typical in their natural environments. That said, many people see zoos as excellent educational resources for children and adults alike, as well as the opportunity to protect certain species in danger of extinction. Unfortunately, even zoos where animals seem to be thriving and are treated well could be hiding animal cruelty and/or abuse. And, ultimately, it’s difficult for zoos to balance their Conservation efforts with their attempts to entertain guests, and it’s nearly impossible to satisfy the emotional and physical needs of wild animals in captivity. Even zoos accredited by AZA are not necessarily better than roadside and/or unaccredited zoos; if you look at the animals’ medical records, you might see that they’re suffering from depression and disease. Here are 10 of the worst zoos in the U.S. for wild animals.

1. Animal Haven Zoo – Weyauwega, WI

Source: Roadside Zoo News/YouTube

In 2023, Animal Haven Zoo — a roadside zoo based in Weyauwega, WI — was cited 17 times for violating the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). After PETA complained about dilapidated facilities and ill animals at the zoo, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent investigators to the site, where they discovered that animals were being kept in broken enclosures and were deprived of necessary veterinary care. They also found a bear who was given maggot-filled food. The USDA’s official report also noted the following: an alpaca who had runny nasal discharge, several chickens with noticeable feather loss and signs of an untreated illness, a pigeon with a severe eye injury, and sheep with overgrown hooves. Further violations for the zoo included failure to provide adequate care to sheep in obvious discomfort related to irritated skin near their horns; failure to repair enclosures in disrepair (which could have injured the animal inhabitants); failure to drain water properly, which had caused a substance akin to water to build up surrounding a tiger’s water; and failure to avoid the prominence of rat scat in a primate enclosure.

This wasn’t the first time Animal Haven Zoo was cited for its cruel practices. In 2022, the zoo received a $6,450 fine for failure to provide a thin lamb with needed veterinary care; failure to provide a liger (lion-tiger hybrid) with water for approximately 20 hours; and for allowing a staff member to bring a three-week-old tiger cub to a school, which put the young one at risk of infection, disease, and stress.

2. Arbuckle Wilderness Park – Davis, OK

Arbuckle Wilderness Park in Davis, Oklahoma, is a roadside zoo considered to be a prime example of animal hoarding. It’s an unaccredited, drive-through safari park with approximately 200 animals — fewer animals than you’d find at other roadside zoos, but probably more than its staff can handle. It’s a well-known destination that has become a common day trip for families in Oklahoma. The price of admission enables guests to drive through the park with their cars and feed the various animals they encounter. The zoo has received numerous AWA violations, perhaps most notably for insufficient barriers separating guests from the animals. This led to the zoo paying thousands of dollars to settle the violations, such as when a woman left the site via ambulance after supposedly being gored by a bison; the reports claimed that the bison stuck their head into the guest’s car, and she received a hand injury after pushing the animal away from her.

It certainly doesn’t help that Oklahoma has minimal exotic animal laws, as there’s little regulation regarding exotic pet ownership in the state. The Department of Wildlife Conservation only has the authority over native (in-state) animals; and, while it does enforce bans on owning venomous snakes, it doesn’t have the authority to regulate ownership of big cats, elephants, and the like. While the department inspects certain zoos statewide, they only have jurisdiction over Oklahoman native animals. The Humane Society has continually asked the state to pass stricter laws that regulate the ownership of exotic animals. According to the USDA’s inspection reports, Arbuckle Wilderness Park isn’t licensed to have animals on exhibit in the drive-through area of the park. The park’s owner, David Teuma, claimed that the facility was always licensed, but ownership changes caused some sort of misunderstanding with the USDA. The official report notes that numerous dead, dying, and sick animals were found at the park in the last few years. Also, per the USDA’s claim, Arbuckle failed to provide the animals with needed veterinary care. Teuma has refuted this and has said that Oklahoma State University has sent animal care specialists on regular visits to the park to monitor the animals’ health.

Previous inspections discovered other issues at Arbuckle, such as in 2015 when a male rhino was reportedly lethargic and thin. Upon further visits to the site, Tank appeared healthy, but he had no companions in his enclosure, an outside space approximately the size of a large suburban-type house. Another inspector noticed a young male llama who seemed “extremely thin,” and was also “nonresponsive and barely conscious.” This claim advised immediate care for the llama, but he unfortunately died before the veterinarian arrived. Yet another complaint reported a female oryx who appeared malnourished — and had numerous parasites — and was found dead at the park. According to the report, Arbuckle staff hadn’t noticed the oryx was pregnant before she died. The complaint also claimed that many animal habitats at the facility were in disrepair or faulty and that some of the animals didn’t have proper access to clean drinking water.

3. Bronx Zoo – Bronx, NY

Source: Reuters/YouTube

Even though the Bronx Zoo — which has been in existence since 1899 — is accredited by AZA (and managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society), it has received plenty of allegations of animal cruelty. The zoo has supposedly ignored the readily available research about elephant care, and their Asian elephants (Happy and Patty) have lived in isolation, which is against modern standards of elephant welfare. One reviewer from 2020 noted a seal with a large brand on their back, and when they asked about it, the reviewer was told that this was because the seal was hunting endangered fish. In that case, the reviewer asked why they’d “burn numbers” onto the seal’s back when they’re swimming in a too-small pool.

Happy the Elephant gained special attention when representatives from the Nonhuman Rights Project (NRP) argued that the elephant is an “autonomous, cognitively complex elephant worthy of the right” typically given to people. The NRP aimed to show that Happy was being “illegally confined” to the zoo, but in 2022, the top court in New York ruled that she could not legally be considered a person. This case brought about discussions regarding the application of human rights to non-human animals. The Bronx Zoo team and its supporters were concerned that a win for the NRP would “open the door” for additional animal-related legal actions. According to the Chief Judge on the case, elephants are admittedly “intelligent beings deserving of proper care and compassion,” but the existence of habeas corpus is meant solely for humans and can’t apply to non-human animals. Unfortunately, this ruling meant that Happy would not be moved to a sanctuary, where she’d have much more space. Had she been granted personhood, this would have greatly affected how humans and animals interact, especially in captive settings.

4. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden – Cincinnati, OH

Source: ABC News/YouTube

The Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio is one of the oldest ones in the U.S., having been founded in 1875. The zoo, which is supposedly focused on breeding and Conservation, is most known for killing Harambe the gorilla. In 2016, a three-year-old boy fell into the zoo’s Gorilla World, and a member of the Dangerous Animal Response Team (DART) onsite shot and killed the gorilla. While animal activists and the general public alike were outraged by this incident, some felt this was a necessary task. Local hunter Mike Lingsch claimed that, in that situation, the “child was a captive” and a threat needed “to be dispatched,” and that the killing was “done humanely and effectively.” Accredited zoos like Cincinnati usually have protocols ready for whenever an animal resident threatens guests or staff. In the case of Harambe, the DART had to decide whether to tranquilize the gorilla — who weighed 450 pounds — or to “use greater force.” While a tranquilizer dart is not lethal, it may not work for up to 30 minutes; but, when shooting to kill, you risk hurting the individual you’re attempting to save. The DART team originally tried to get Harambe out of his exhibit, but they were only able to coax his female roommates out. While the boy falling into the exhibit is an accident — he slipped through the nearby railing and fell into the moat — the fault should be on the child’s parents, not on the gorilla, who is a wild animal with wild instincts. Harambe went back and forth between dragging the child and pawing him gently but didn’t necessarily indicate aggressive behavior. As such, many people were outraged at Harambe’s death, and there was even at least one petition seeking “justice for Harambe.”

Also, in 2015, the Cincinnati Zoo was at risk of losing its AZA accreditation after evidence of dangerous photo ops with elephants. It started with a photo on a blog post that showed zoo guests posing extremely close (separated only by a “single strand of electric wire”) to an elephant while a zookeeper — not far from them — held a bullhook. Because the AZA strictly prohibits unprotected contact between the public and elephants and also requires there be safe barriers between elephants and zookeepers, PETA sent a letter to the AZA to urge them to require the zoo to stop these photo ops or rescind the facility’s accreditation. These kinds of encounters can be fatal to humans, as an elephant can crush a human in one step. The Cincinnati Zoo offered close-up encounters with their elephants, costing $500 to $1,000, which violates the AZA’s guidelines.

5. Fresno Chaffee Zoo – Fresno, CA

Source: ABC30 Action News/YouTube

Fresno Chaffee Zoo in California opened in 1929, and in 2022 the zoo was ranked by In Defense of Animals (IDA) as the 10th worst zoo in the country for elephants. IDA argued that there wasn’t enough space for the zoo’s elephants to roam, but representatives for the zoo claimed that those elephants had plenty of acres for wandering. According to IDA, even though the elephant exhibit technically meets the accreditation standards, elephants need miles of space for roaming. Another reason for the zoo’s ranking, the IDA said, was that three of its elephants died between 2017 and 2019. One elephant had osteoarthritis, one had elephant HIV, and one tore a ligament. This zoo is known for moving elephants around for breeding purposes, which is hardly uncommon, but still cruel because they’re separated from their bonds, families, and herds. Research shows that this kind of frequent relocation can lead to extreme stress, which can bring about physical brain damage for these elephants.

Soon after the IDA ranked Fresno Chaffee Zoo, a petition was filed by the NRP for habeas corpus — typically used to release people from prison who shouldn’t be there — against the zoo, in hopes that they could release their elephants. The NRP demanded that the zoo “come before the Court to attempt to justify the continued imprisonment of elephants.” Both IDA and the NRP claimed that the zoo stole elephants from their natural habitats and that they’re not given enough space at the zoo; both claims were refuted by the zoo’s CEO, Jon Forrest Dohlin, who asserted that the elephant exhibit is “well-designed” to “facilitate” the “natural behavior” found in the wild. The average zoo guest might not notice anything amiss, as it seems like the elephants’ enclosure is plenty big, with “palm trees,” “water features,” rocks, and the like. However, the general public probably doesn’t realize that this isn’t what these animals need, and they go through stressful transfers and breeding.

Some reviews for Fresno Chaffee Zoo have been scathing, with one reviewer stating that zookeepers willingly informed them of the animals the zoo “terminates.” The guest described two specific experiences: one in which they were told by a zookeeper a bird was meant to be terminated due to being “too friendly,” and another in which they were told “casually” by another zookeeper that a hippo who’d disappeared had been “terminated.” Animal deaths have been commonplace at the zoo; for example, in 2016, a capybara died mere days after a baby giraffe. The giraffe died after running directly into a fence, and the capybara supposedly died as a result of an anteater attack. Capybaras and anteaters are unlikely to interact in the wild, so their being in such proximity to one another is unnatural and dangerous. Following the giraffe’s death, PETA put out a call to end the giraffe breeding program at the zoo. According to local sources, the one-month-old giraffe collided with the fence surrounding their enclosure, and this event took place during a preview of the zoo’s new exhibit.

6. Monterey Zoo – Salinas, CA

Source: KION News Channel 46/YouTube

Monterey Zoo — located in Salinas, CA — has been in operation for 30 years. The zoo claims to be an elephant “retirement home,” but sources say this is far from the truth. Most of their elephants die around the age of 22, which is quite young, and they often died from illnesses related to the terrible conditions in which they lived — not from old age. The mission statement on their website claims that they are “dedicated to providing an entertaining yet educational and Conservation-minded experience” that’s focused on “public awareness and respect for all wildlife.” In 2020, PETA sued the zoo for supposedly using bullhooks and prods on their elephants — which are banned in the state of California. The zoo is accused of training elephants using free contact, circus-like methods, in which trainers are in the same space as the elephants and may resort to force and the aforementioned disciplinary tools. Not only are the zoo’s methods cruel to the animals, but they’re also dangerous for humans. In 2018, a trainer was trampled by an elephant and broke his back in the process. According to the related OSHA report, the elephant stepped on the staff member’s feet and then thrashed following aggression towards the elephant; this led to the zoo receiving a citation from OSHA. Even after the 2018 incident, the zoo continued to use canes to control their captive elephants.

The 2020 PETA lawsuit extended a battle between the Animal rights organization and the Monterey Zoo that started in 2019 after two elephants died mere months after one another. Even though the elephants were older — ages 48 and 52 — autopsies confirmed they died as a result of poor care. PETA then sent the autopsy reports to the media, bringing negative attention to the zoo. In PETA’s press release, they noted that “one elephant’s intestinal tissue was rotting away and another was likely unable to move without agony. However, Charlie Sammut, the zoo’s founder and owner, claimed that the elephants had been rescued from a circus where they’d been abused and that what led to the animals’ deaths were common ailments. Other questionable elephant deaths at the zoo include one whose necropsy revealed she’d consumed a lot of sand that had destroyed her large intestine and caused blood poisoning — a death kept hidden from the public. Another elephant suffered from a “painful joint condition” and was subsequently euthanized. Sammut originally founded the zoo in 1994 as Vision Quest Ranch, which hosted more than 100 exotic animals, which he often loaned to movie productions (including as a model for “The Lion King.”). While Sammut is not trained in zoology, after the elephant attack in 2018, he upgraded the place from an “open-air ranch” to a zoo. At that time, agents from both California Fish and Wildlife and OSHA inspected the zoo, and Sammut claimed that these inspections “exonerated” the zoo.

PETA celebrated a victory in 2023 when they won their lawsuit appeal against the Monterey Zoo. The California Court of Appeal ruled in PETA’s favor regarding the fact the zoo had “failed to establish that its use of canes to poke, prod, and control elephants as a stand-in for bullhooks” somehow stems from activity related to the First Amendment. The court’s ruling enabled PETA to move forward with their lawsuit that alleged “unlawful business practices” at the zoo, where canes were being used as weapons. The lawsuit also alleged that the zoo violated the state’s “worker protection laws,” due to the facility’s “free contact” policies. A lawyer from the PETA Foundation noted that the Monterey Zoo is the only one in California that still also allows for direct contact with its elephants, and the court’s ruling would hopefully help to end the “cruel practices” at the zoo. At the time of PETA’s victory, the zoo transferred the one elephant it had left — who was used for photo ops and guest encounters — to a different facility, but the zoo intended to bring him back, in addition to more elephants.

7. Natural Bridge Zoo – Natural Bridge, VA

Source: WSLS/YouTube

Nature Bridge Zoo, located in Virginia, has been in operation since 1972 and is believed to be one of the worst zoos in America. Fortunately, the zoo recently closed after a law enforcement raid. This roadside zoo received nearly 150 violations of the AWA. Perhaps most notable among its numerous offenses is the fact that Asha the elephant was forced to give rides to visitors — in the thousands annually — via the threat of physical harm. Additional animals were reportedly left with untreated wounded for weeks at a time. The zoo touted the fact that it was privately owned and operated, saying that they never accepted any sort of local, federal, or state funding. Their purpose, as they explain it, is to the “propagation and rearing of threatened or endangered species.” Their website implies that wild animals might be safer at the zoo than they are out in their natural habitats, which is false. In 2020, one reviewer asked for the zoo to be shut down immediately, claiming that their visit was “truly one of the saddest days” of their life, in witnessing the animal abuse.

In December of 2023, Virginia State Police received a search warrant for Natural Bridge Zoo due to allegations of animal abuse. At that time, a rare white tiger was unfortunately euthanized, and 96 animals were seized from the facility. According to court documents, the animals lived in filthy conditions and did not receive proper care. At the hearing, witnesses testified about the zoo’s horrible conditions, which they said were overcrowded, filthy, and exhibited strong odors of urine and excretion. One investigator, who’d visited the property in October, mentioned seeing a bloated, dead goat who’d been left in an enclosure alongside other animals. Another investigator discovered a large freezer onsite containing several shelves full of dead animal bodies and parts, although the zoo wasn’t found to be violating any laws regarding the storage of those deceased animals. After an autopsy on the euthanized tiger, it was revealed that he had cancer in his liver, lung, and spleen.

Further investigations found that basic care and enrichment needs were not being met at Natural Bridge Zoo and that there were numerous safety hazards. Per the State, the female giraffes continued breeding calves, none of whom could be found at the zoo. However, according to the zoo’s attorney, they were “running a legitimate business” and that the animals should not be taken from them. Just earlier this year, Natural Bridge Zoo received a nearly $46k animal care bill after the Lexington-Rockbridge General District Court ruled that the County was owed the costs of boarding and caring for the animals seized during the investigation. The County was also allowed to make “unannounced inspections” of the zoo for six months. Per the ruling, out of the 100 animals seized from the zoo, 29 could stay at the zoo while the government kept the 71 remaining animals. To obtain custody of the animals, the County needed to prove that each animal had either received cruel treatment or had “suffered from deprivation of care” leading to “direct and immediate” threats to their health, lives, and safety. The animals remaining at the zoo were: one albino Burmese python, one kookaburra, one macaw, one Poitou donkey, one serval, two llamas, two sacred ibises, three cockatoos, four parrots, 11 lemurs, and all the sheep. The animals in the County’s custody were: one blue-tongued skink (who died), one dog, one gibbon (who died), one mini donkey, three ground hornbills, the capuchins, the giraffes, the tamarins, the tortoises and turtles, the remaining macaws, and the remaining pythons. The four giraffes were also included in the government’s custody, but because it was difficult to transport them, they stayed at the zoo. Fortunately, since leaving the zoo, the animals seized by the County have improved (save for the two who died), with the Special Attorney General claiming that the animals received better care in the last couple of months than they ever did while at the zoo.

8. Pittsburgh Zoo – Pittsburgh, PA

Source: CBS Pittsburgh/YouTube

In operation since 1898, the Pittsburgh Zoo houses elephants in cramped enclosures with concrete floors, which are harmful to these animals. These conditions can cause severe physical disabilities and chronic pain. The zoo’s official title is the “Pittsburgh Zoo and Conservation Center,” which seems like an inaccurate name, considering the zoo’s poor track record for elephant care. For example, in 2017, a baby elephant was born there for the first time in a decade, but because he/she was premature, he/she was rejected by the mother. Then, instead of bottle-feeding the infant away under close observation and away from prying eyes, the little one was on public display in an insolated enclosure. The Pittsburgh Zoo has also received citations for keeping elephants in line by using dogs, who were allowed to bite the elephants. The zoo even continued using bullhooks until 2017, which is when they withdrew from the AZA after the practice was banned.

In 2021, following the announcement of an elephant calf born at the Pittsburgh Zoo, PETA put out a statement advocating for the zoo’s elephant-breeding program to end immediately. Considering how unprepared and understaffed the zoo was for the previous birth several years prior, the statement said, they should have learned from “that tragedy” by allowing the baby to be raised by her own mother and allowed to live as naturally as possible. Just a year

In a review from 2019, a guest remarked how the orangutans were kept in “a small concrete prison with no natural light,” claiming it as “one of the worst animal exhibits” they’d ever seen. They likened the orangutans’ living conditions to serving jail time “without the luxury of time” in a yard. The reviewer also noted that a meerkat was left alone — after the others somehow died — and that he needed socialization and was alone. And, while it’s normal for anywhere from 15 to 25 zoo animals to pass away during a given year, the Pittsburgh Zoo experienced three deaths in February of this year alone. Mrithi, a silverback Western lowland gorilla who was the first of his kind to be born at the zoo, died at 31 while under anesthesia, after having shown mobility issues. Then, Tsuni, a two-year-old elephant calf, died after a brief, sudden bout with elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus. Unfortunately, elephants up to age eight are at high risk for this disease, which comes with an 85% mortality rate. Finally, Seahawk, an 18-year-old sea lion, died while being sedated to determine an illness. He hadn’t been eating and had what the zoo called an “adverse reaction” from being sedated. While the zoo claims that staff follow procedures when it comes to sedating animals — often the only way to diagnose medical problems — it’s unusual (and suspicious) for these deaths to occur so close together.

9. Seneca Park Zoo – Rochester, NY

Source: ABC News/YouTube

Seneca Park Zoo, located in Rochester, NY, has been in operation since 1894; Rochester is not the ideal environment for elephants, who are accustomed to warmer climates. While they can tolerate colder temperatures for brief periods, they are not equipped to handle the often icy, frigid temperatures of that area. These conditions have caused several of the zoo’s elephants to develop illnesses — namely, painful, severe arthritis. One elephant died prematurely because she was unable to stand up. Yes, Seneca Park Zoo is AZA-accredited, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t concerned about its animals. The zoo’s website asserts that Conservation is at the forefront of its mission and that it will be a “leader in Conservation and a thrilling destination where everyone feels welcome.” And yet, animal deaths at the zoo have raised concerns regarding its standard of care.

Just last year, a six-year-old Masai giraffe died at the zoo after getting caught in an enclosure gate. Other animal deaths at the Seneca Park Zoo have led to people questioning the zoo’s animal care. First, a snow leopard cub died when he was only eight days old; he’d been abandoned by his mother after being born outside her den. Then, a red panda died due to a sudden respiratory infection. Following that, a spotted hyena was believed to be the oldest in captivity perished. Not long after, an African elephant’s foot condition “rendered her lame,” leading to her being euthanized. The previous year, an ostrich died after being attacked by a southern white rhino who lived in the same habitat as her. A few years before that incident, three sea lions died within four months. All of this led to people wondering if these deaths could have been avoided. Larry Staub, the zoo’s Director, claimed that, while it’s “natural” to question such things, the deaths were not “welfare-related.” While the zoo’s 2018 AZA accreditation report found that, overall, the animal care at the facility “exceeded standards,” inspectors marked three habitats as “unacceptable”: those housing the red pandas, sea lions, and snow leopards, as they didn’t provide the animals with enough shade. The inspectors also described the following exhibits as “inadequate”: those housing the hyena, raccoons, the red-tailed hawk, and the snowy owl.

However, a later inspection — in 2021 — discovered more issues at Seneca Park Zoo. That inspection uncovered 10 citations in total, ranging from specific animal care-related issues to the animals’ habitats to staff training (or lack of). This year marked the first time the zoo had received any citations, and this particular inspection was thought ideal after a lion escaped her enclosure while the zoo was open. According to the USDA inspector, the lioness was able to escape by squeezing through an opening while being held during a training session that was “unscheduled” and “unapproved.” But, that wasn’t the only problem with the incident. As inspectors discovered, the zoo’s “lethal force team was deployed without adequate training for performance during emergencies,” “an incorrect code” was called, and one particular team member didn’t have a weapon and didn’t “demonstrate adequate safety precautions when handling” said weapon. Also, the USDA inspected the snow leopard cub incident and determined that the zoo’s “animal care staff disregarded the birth management plan developed by” the onsite veterinarian, which had instructed that the animals be left undisturbed for the first 24 hours after birth. Even though the vet told zoo staff to watch the monitors, they instead entered the birthing area 6-7 times during an approximately seven-hour period to “check” on the mother and cub. The mother likely rejected her cub because she noticed she was under observation during this time.

10. TNT Exotics – Shelbyville, IN

The Shelbyville, IN-based TNT Exotics — a roadside zoo — has received so many allegations of animal abuse that it has its own Facebook complaints page, which is updated regularly. The most recent post was made on April 23rd of this year when three animal deaths (from 2019 to 2023) were pointed out: in 2019, a red boer doe died overnight, and was suspected to have worms but was never dewormed; in 2019, a potbelly piglet died (with no further information provided); and in 2021, a red iguana who was supposedly very healthy when the zoo acquired him, died during the winter. Other animal deaths reported on the Facebook page include a shetland sheep who was weaned too early and was given sweet food that contained copper (despite warnings that copper was unhealthy for sheep), as well as a miniature pony purchased to give rides to guests of the zoo. The pony was already in rough condition when bought by the zoo, as she was bow-legged and cow-hocked, which made it difficult for her to give rides. The owners apparently didn’t care who rode the pony, who would be too small for certain guests, and too big children would be put on the horse’s back. As her hip started to give out, she was never provided any comfort and was instead forced to perform.

Eventually, TNT Exotics was cited by the USDA and received multiple violations, including keeping a spider monkey alone, which is stressful for these social animals. Inspectors also noticed feces-caked enclosures and a sloth enclosure with flies and live mice. According to that Facebook page, the zoo was not officially shut down by the USDA. According to the zoo, they originally stated they were permanently closed but they then recanted that statement. While some of the zoo’s animals were sold, it’s unclear how many they kept and which ones they are who remain. Technically, if TNT Exotics retains its USDA license, they are allowed to keep as many animals on their property as they want. The owner of the Facebook page encourages people to continue being “a voice for these babies.” One guest who visited the zoo in 2021 noticed that the facility was a mess, with “junk laying around” the front yard, as well as “a bunch of trash laying around the front barn.” This guest also mentioned feeling bad for the alligators whose mouths were taped shut all day so they could be held. The page is filled with upsetting posts and pictures about animals suffering at the roadside zoo, which as of right now is still (allegedly) in operation.

So, even when it may appear as though the animals at a particular zoo are well taken care of, your best bet is to Support ethical animal rescues and sanctuaries, as it’s not ideal to give your money to places where wild animals are forcibly captive. Wild animals in captivity can be seen engaging in repetitive licking, pacing, and other related behaviors that can indicate stress, discomfort, depression, and the like. It’s difficult to provide these animals with adequate enrichment and stimulation in their denoted enclosures. The simple fact is that there’s no real way to replicate these animals’ native habitats. And, with an estimated 384 aquariums and zoos in the United States alone, it’s sad to think of the many animals who are not where they’re supposed to be: in the wild. Additionally, because some sanctuaries and/or rescues aren’t always what they seem, make sure to do plenty of research before supporting these types of organizations.