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Animals Removed from Waccatee Zoo Due to Lawsuit Alleging Poor Conditions and ESA Violations

Incident Date:
05/04/2023
Location:
Myrtle Beach, SC - USA
Facility Name:
Waccatee Zoo
Facility Type:
Non-accredited Facility (RSZ)
Incident Category:
Legal/illegal issue (LI)
Species:
Bears
Animal:
Emu
Animal disposition:
Removed/Re-housed

Summary:

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), along with the Wild Animal Sanctuary, have just announced that all animals have been removed from the Waccatee Zoo; an infamous roadside zoo in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area.

The last of the animals, including one llama, two North American black bears, and six emus, are now on their way to a sanctuary in Colorado.

PETA filed a lawsuit in April 2021 claiming that the Waccatee Zoo violated the federal Endangered Species Act and South Carolina’s public nuisance law, by confining and exhibiting over 460 animals in poor conditions.

The lawsuit also alleges that it has received over 150 complaints from the public about the roadside zoo. While the zoo was in the process of closing, many of the animals were sent to other roadside zoos or sold at shady exotic-animal auctions.

Action take by Born Free USA:

Notes: