HORRY COUNTY, SC (WBTW) – Dozens of people protested a zoo near Socastee on Saturday, saying many animals there are living in poor conditions.
About 25 protesters outside Waccatee Zoo on Enterprise Road say they want the animals there to find new homes at larger sanctuaries.
They say it’s because many animals don’t live in good enclosures.
“I remember my first time seeing this first-hand was on a field trip in elementary school and I left crying,” said protestor Taylor Jonathan Burt. “I actually got in trouble from the school for leaving the field trip. Ever since then, it’s been a passion in my heart to have this place shut down.”
The protesters say the zoo has had poor conditions in many exhibits for years, but were motivated to gather Saturday after an inspection by the USDA in March. The inspection says a monkey called a macaque and three baboons showed signs of psychological distress.
The USDA report says the macaque was found with what’s called “floating limb syndrome.” The macaque’s left leg would slowly float up and the macaque would attack that leg without causing wounds.
The macaque was also found licking the tip of his tail, which was bare of skin and had red tissue showing. The report says it was possibly caused by frostbite, the caretakers didn’t tell the owner, and a veterinarian wasn’t consulted.
A male baboon was seen repeatedly pacing in circles and figure eights. A female baboon repeatedly swayed. Another baboon repeatedly rocked sideways, tossed its head, stood up, circled in place, then resumed rocking.
The report says the cage furniture in three enclosures hadn’t been changed in at least a year. There were also no time consuming activities to engage baboons to get food.
The report also says two male black bears showed similar repetitive behaviors of pacing back and forth. The USDA report says Waccatee Zoo was cited in May 2017, saying the bears needed veterinarian evaluations and modifications to their habitats. However, the March 2018 report says a proposed new enclosure hadn’t been started.
A PETA spokesperson says the group has looked into the zoo and filed complaints to the USDA, including the one prompting the March inspection.
“Waccatee Zoo either can’t or won’t provide the necessary veterinary care and enrichment that these primates desperately need,” said PETA captive wildlife specialist Rebecca Smudzinski.
The zoo’s owners declined an interview, but say they’ve taken great care of every single animal for 30 years.
The protesters disagree and say they want the animals to get better care somewhere else.
“What the zoo could do is stick to domestic animals and turn themselves more into a nonprofit sanctuary,” said protest organizer Jerri Gingrich.
The group says it’s also planning other protests and demonstrations against Waccatee Zoo.
