PETA Statement on Closure of Neon Jungle’s Exotic-Animal Encounters

For Immediate Release:
July 14, 2017

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Please see the following statement from PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet in response to the closure of Neon Jungle—a storefront facility in Oklahoma City and an affiliate of Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park—that exhibited and offered “playtime” with exotic baby animals:

Neon Jungle’s closure hasn’t come soon enough for the young wild animals torn away from their mothers and handled by an endless stream of strangers so that someone could make some money. People who exploit captive wild animals should get used to having to shut down their businesses, as public support for companies that exploit and abuse animals for entertainment is at an all-time low. PETA urges everyone to avoid tourist attractions that profit from animals’ misery.

Neon Jungle’s closure follows PETA’s request to the Oklahoma City manager to investigate the facility for operating in apparent violation of the Oklahoma City Exotic Wildlife Abatement Ordinance, which prohibits, with a few exceptions, keeping exotic wildlife within the corporate city limits. PETA also contacted owners and managers at Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads, and nearly 80,000 PETA supporters urged them to sever ties with Neon Jungle.

PETA’s motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment.”