Alpine Sanctuary Welcomes Lucky Animals Rescued From Now-Shuttered South Carolina Zoo

For Immediate Release:
October 30, 2024

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Local animal sanctuary Lions Tigers & Bears has two new residents today: a coatimundi and a potbellied, who arrived late yesterday following a lawsuit by PETA and a group of concerned residents against the now-shuttered Waccatee Zoo in South Carolina. Lions Tigers & Bears, a facility accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, is located on 93 acres of land on the edge of the Cleveland National Forest and cares for more than 60 animals, including birds, bobcats, leopards, horses, llamas, and a pig named Penelope.

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.

“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,” says PETA Foundation General Counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet. “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.”

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 as a result of constant frustration, loneliness, and even abuse.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.