Curiosity kills the beast

In January of 2024, an undercover video from Humane World for Animals revealed what authorities, visitors, citizens and former employees had been reporting since the storefront zoo Sloth Encounters opened in the quiet hamlet of Harpaugge, N.Y., two years earlier.

The video shows a female employee inciting two male sloths to fight, and then stopping the fight by hitting them with a water bottle. Supposedly, this was done to entertain customers who paid $50 each for 30 minutes to play with and pet the captive sloths. Reports of visitors, including a child, being bitten, unsanitary conditions, overcrowding and mishandling of the animals by owner Larry Wallach had preceded the video, but it took a contempt of court charge for failure to abide by numerous citations to finally shut the place down.

Wallach, a self-proclaimed wild animal trainer and exhibitor, had somehow managed to keep his USDA-issued licenses to own wild animals for decades, despite fines, temporary suspensions and at least 40 citations for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, a federal law enacted in 1966 to govern the humane treatment of animals in certain captive environments, but for a variety of reasons has been consistently weak and sporadically enforced at best.

When Sloth Encounters closed, local authorities stated they had no legal justification to confiscate the animals, so Wallach took off with seven sloths, two capybaras, three chinchillas, seven sugar gliders, 10 lovebirds and a kangaroo, threatening to reopen his business elsewhere in the future.

Thirteen years earlier on a rainy October night in Zanesville, Ohio, Terry Thomas released 50 wild animals including Bengal tigers, lions, bears, cougars, wolves and a baboon from his 73 acre “wild animal preserve” into the rural community. While the city was locked down and sheriff’s deputies searched for the animals, ultimately having to shoot and kill 48 of them, Thomas shot and killed himself.

Adding to this tragedy was the emotional toll it took on the officers, many of whom suffered from guilt and grief long after the tragedy occurred.

“The smells, the sights, everybody with tears in their eyes. I couldn’t sleep for two weeks,” one officer said.

Many officers approached wildlife authorities present at the scene and apologized for having to kill the animals. Both Wallach and Thomas had licenses issued by the USDA to own wild animals, and both had been cited multiple times in the past for a variety of violations of the AWA.

So, too, did Brian Tenney who owned and operated West Coast Game Park Safari, a large wild animal “petting park” in Bandon, Ore., where visitors interacted with uncaged wild animals, including lions. In May of this year, 310 animals were finally seized after a year-long investigation revealed underfed animals, unsafe enclosures, and poor sanitation. Two of the animals, including a camel, were so ill they were euthanized.

The words “wild animal” and “petting” don’t belong in the same sentence. With very few exceptions, wild animals don’t like, and should not be petted or cuddled by humans. In an article from SAFE Worldwide (www.SAFEworldwide.org) the author points out how vulnerable we humans are to the “awe of wild animals” and how easily we’re lured into these types of places. What most people don’t realize, however, is the reality of the impact on the animals, and the safety risks, like injuries or disease, imposed on humans.

Overall, having interest in and curiosity about wild animals and nature is a good thing. It helps us gain respect for other forms of life, teaches us how to live in harmony with them, how to be good stewards of the land and, I believe, teaches us much about ourselves. What is needed is for humans to put aside the selfish desire to pet and cuddle the wild ones and overcome the ego’s need to overpower and/or kill them.

Luckily, there are many ways to learn that don’t depend on causing harm. Books, documentaries and movies are great places to start and are always available. In addition, try visiting accredited zoos, sanctuaries and parks offering educational programs; go on vacations set up through credible conservation organizations where you can experience animals safe in their natural habitats. Some even allow you to assist with conservation efforts.

Donate to animal welfare organizations that touch your heart; teach others what you learn; track laws pertaining to animal welfare and write or call legislators to support them; and very importantly, don’t patronize roadside wildlife zoos and “pretend” sanctuaries that allow and encourage improper encounters and mistreatment of wild animals.