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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After Images of Employee’s Injury from Animal Attack Surface – OSHA Complaint Filed Against Texas Wild Animal Dealer and Roadside Zoo Owner
Graphic images of wound are posted on Tik-Tok by an employee of Gator Park — a facility owned and operated by Jason Clay.April 7, 2022 Press Release -
Lawsuit Filed Against Tiger Creek for Violating Endangered Species Act
The lawsuit alleges federally endangered and threatened animals such as the tigers, lions, and ring-tailed lemurs are receiving inadequate care at Tiger CreekMarch 16, 2022 Press Release -
Washington State Supreme Court Rules Animal Cruelty Can Be a Crime of Domestic Violence
On February 8, 2022, the Washington State Supreme Court issued a decision in the case State v. Charmarke Abdi-Issa, holding that animal cruelty could be designated a crime of domestic violence, and that an animal’s guardian could be considered a victim of the crime.March 9, 2022 News
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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.