3 min read
Damning state records obtained by PETA reveal that staff members and customers—including children—have been injured during dangerous public encounters with animals at Florida’s Zoological Wildlife Foundation (ZWF Miami), a notorious roadside zoo featured in Tiger King and owned by convicted felon and former drug kingpin Mario Tabraue. In response, PETA sent a letter today to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requesting that the agency promptly investigate the Miami-based facility and hold all responsible parties accountable for any violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act.
Zoological Wildlife Foundation exploits animals in publicity stunts and hands-on encounters that have gone horribly wrong.
The feds cited Zoological Wildlife Foundation after two children were reportedly “scratched” by a capuchin monkey during a public encounter in January 2024, but PETA pointed out that records from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission—which include a doctor’s report and photos—reveal that three children had been bitten during that incident. Monkeys can carry many diseases that are transmittable to humans, including rabies, hepatitis, and tuberculosis.
In addition, state records detail the following incidents at ZWF Miami:
- In May 2024, another child was bitten by the same capuchin monkey and required transportation to a medical facility for treatment.
- In 2023, a customer was bitten on the thigh by a capuchin monkey who had fled from her handler.
- In 2023, Tabraue was hospitalized for several days after he was bitten by a Gila monster and went into anaphylactic shock.
- In 2022, an employee was scratched by a jaguar and required stitches.
Zoological Wildlife Foundation has a long and disturbing history of endangering animals and the public and has been issued multiple citations by the USDA for violating the federal Animal Welfare Act—including in 2023 and 2021, when guests were bitten by a lion cub during public encounters. In 2020, a child was bitten by a 4-year-old chimpanzee, and in 2014 a tiger bit off a construction worker’s thumb after the man put his hand into a cage.
PETA is calling on the USDA to take action against this seedy roadside zoo and for everyone to avoid businesses that use wild animals as props.
Here’s What You Can Do to Help Animals in Roadside Zoos
Never pay to touch, feed, or hold a wild animal. Please join PETA in urging ZWF Miami to end its cruel public encounters:
