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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Coalition Urges Humboldt County to Void Illegal Lethal Contract with Federal Wildlife-Killing Agency
Today, a coalition of animal protection and conservation groups sent a letter to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors and Humboldt County Agriculture Commissioner, urging them to terminate their contract with the USDA.April 30, 2019 Press Release -
Former Roadside Zoo Bear, Ricki, Reunites with Rescuer Whose Lawsuit Freed Her from Concrete Cage
For 16 years, Ricki, a black bear, lived alone in a bare 250-square-foot cage outside of an ice cream shop in Pennsylvania. In 2014, Bennett and the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit on Ricki's behalf.April 25, 2019 Press Release -
Reward of $5,000 Offered in Case of Bear Cubs Separated from Mother
Reward Offered by Animal Legal Defense Fund for Information Leading to Arrest/ConvictionApril 11, 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.