Once Caged at Waccatee Zoo, Lucky Cougar Now at Sanctuary, Other Animals Now On Their Way

For Immediate Release:
October 28, 2024

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Yesterday, a cougar, a coatimundi, and a pot-bellied pig who were once confined at the now-shuttered Waccatee Zoo were moved to accredited sanctuaries following a lawsuit against the facility and its operators by PETA and concerned residents. About five months after filing the lawsuit, PETA learned that Waccatee was secretly transferring animals out of the facility—including to Zootastic Park, a roadside zoo in North Carolina—and filed an emergency motion to prohibit further transfers. The cougar has now arrived at Carolina Tiger Rescue in Pittsboro, and the coatimundi and pot-bellied pig are on their way to Lions Tigers & Bears in California.

According to the lawsuit, Waccatee denied animals adequate shelter from the elements, space, and security and failed to provide other animals with adequate nutrition. Yesterday’s moves bring the total number of animals rescued by PETA from Waccatee to 12. 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 compassionate 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. Cougars are solitary and secretive animals who travel up to 15 miles a day in search of food. 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, while 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.