PETA Urges Feds to Crack Down on Pseudo-Sanctuary

PETA has filed a formal complaint with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) calling on it to investigate Serenity Springs Wildlife Center, a disreputable
Colorado-based pseudo-sanctuary, for alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). PETA
believes that Serenity Springs is violating the ESA by harming, harassing,
wounding, and killing tigers and other endangered animals as well as failing to
obtain the required permits for more than two dozen endangered animals. PETA
wants the FWS to take all appropriate legal action against Serenity Springs if
it uncovers any violations.

Serenity Springs has an appalling death
rate—by its own admission, approximately one-third of its animals have died in
the past five years. According to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), many of these deaths involved
improper handling and/or denial of veterinary care—and the agency has dozens of charges for Animal
Welfare Act violations pending against Serenity Springs.

In one incident, according to the USDA,
Serenity Springs manager Nick Sculac, who has no veterinary degree, “diagnosed”
a tiger named Nala with cancer and then, rather than obtaining treatment for
her, gave the tiger “three doses of a sedative, unsuccessfully attempted
to inject Nala with euthanasia solution, and ultimately killed Nala by cutting
her throat, and reported to Colorado officials that Nala had died of natural
causes.” The agency also found that in another incident—and again without
consulting a veterinarian—the roadside zoo had a volunteer kill a tiger with
medical problems.

PETA has also recently filed formal
comments with the FWS opposing an application by Serenity Springs for a permit to
breed captive endangered animals and has asked the USDA not to renew Serenity
Springs’ exhibitor’s license.

What You Can Do

Your curiosity kills big cats. Next time
you see a roadside zoo, just keep
driving—these cruel operations stay in business only because people patronize
them.