COVINGTON COUNTY, MS (WDAM) -
More than a two dozen officers from Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries,and Parks and the Mississippi Highway Patrol swarmed the Collins Exotic Zoo off Highway 49 on Wednesday morning and seized several animals.
A two year undercover investigation of the zoo by the Humane Society of the United States revealed several violations of state law alleging significant welfare issues that govern the possession of wild animals inherently dangerous to humans. The Humane Society filed a complaint with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks who then obtained a warrant to remove several of the animals.
The Collins Zoo housed several exotic animals that fit the category of being inherently dangerous to include four cougars, four wolves, three leopards, six tigers, a lion, and a macaque monkey.
During the investigation a veterinarian and zoo consultant visited the zoo and provided a written assessment of the conditions there. The veterinarian found several malnourished animals, flimsy caging for two tigers, and a leopard with an injured leg. He also expressed concerns about venomous snakes being held in unlocked enclosures.
Other finding in the investigation were the animals not being maintained according to standard practices, were not provided adequate veterinarian care or shelter and were sometimes deliberately mistreated.
HSUS Public Information Officer Jordan Crump says the zoo owners have been given adequate time to clean up the violations and they have failed to do so.
"The owners have been given multiple chances to fix some of the situations that were found two years ago," said Crump. At this point the State Department and the Humane Society of the United States has been called in to remove the animals and find a better situation for them."
All animals who were considered a potential danger to humans were removed from the property on Wednesday. They will be taken to temporary sanctuary's where they will be cared for.
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