King Kong Zoological Park
Charlene Salzer, Mary Elder, and Martha Buffington v. King Kong Zoo, and John Curtis
In 2014 the Animal Legal Defense Fund brought a lawsuit against the King Kong Zoological Park, an unaccredited roadside zoo in Murphy, North Carolina, for violating the state's animal cruelty laws.
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In 2014, the Animal Legal Defense Fund brought a lawsuit against the King Kong Zoological Park, an unaccredited roadside zoo in Murphy, North Carolina. The lawsuit alleged that King Kong’s inhumane treatment of its captive animals violated North Carolina’s state animal cruelty laws.
Bears, tigers and a chimpanzee named Archie were confined to small, near-empty enclosures with concrete floors where they were deprived of company and mental and physical stimulation. Their bodies and minds deteriorated in this environment.
Shortly after the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s lawsuit was filed, King Kong Zoo voluntarily closed its doors. We tried to help place King Kong Zoo’s animals at sanctuaries, but the zoo ignored our efforts and most were sold to other roadside zoos.
In January 2015, Archie the chimpanzee tragically died in a fire at Hollywild, another roadside zoo, in South Carolina – Hollywild had been repeatedly cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Animal Welfare Act violations prior to the fire.
A consent decree was entered into in 2017, prohibiting King Kong’s owner from owning or working with any wild, nonnative or exotic animals for 15 years.
Recent News
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Winter Weather Advisory: Keep Animals Safe and Warm This Winter
Tips from the Animal Legal Defense Fund.January 21, 2020 Press Release -
Court Filing Seeks Whereabouts Of Nearly 100 Animals Missing From Iowa Roadside Zoo
Animal Legal Defense Fund moves for contempt order against Cricket Hollow Zoo and owners who removed animals before rescue in violation of court orderJanuary 9, 2020 Press Release -
Animals Rescued and Removed from Manchester, Iowa, Roadside Zoo
Media invited to press briefing after multiple groups work together to rescue animals after court ruling orders their immediate removal from Cricket Hollow ZooDecember 9, 2019 Press Release
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Say No to Roadside Zoos
Bears, lions, and other animals languish in roadside zoos across the country. Animals live in cruel conditions, confined to small cages without the enrichment they need to lead full, happy lives. Protect animals by boycotting roadside zoos.