A wildlife park in Paoli has been fined for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Along with an $8,000 fine, the Wilstem Wildlife Park faces federal violations including euthanizing a llama, inadequate fencing, insufficient shade and shelter for the animals, and lack of protection for children when interacting with the animals.
Animal deaths and acts of cruelty are “business as usual” for the wildlife park, said Klayton Rutherford, a Captive Animal Law Enforcement Associate at PETA.
“This isn't a one-off incident. This isn't just an accident,” Rutherford said. “This is woeful animal abuse, and the facility has proven that it's incapable of keeping animals alive, much less properly caring for them.”
The U.S.D.A.'s investigation found that in February of 2020, the park followed through with euthanizing a llama by crushing the animal's skull with an excavator bucket. In an attempt to recapture three escaped elands, workers used tranquilizers on the animals, causing one to break her neck.
The Wilstem Wildlife Park provided WTIU with the same statement posted on its Facebook page that states, “Proper protocols were not followed, and the owners were misled on the series of events. Corrective action was immediately taken, and we were devastated about how the situation was handled.”
Rutherford is asking for more accountability.
“By not visiting this park, everyone can play a part,” Rutherford said. “Hitting them in their pocket books, and showing them that the public doesn't stand for this kind of animal abuse.”
The fine was prompted by a September 2020 inspection report that said camels and goats were not provided with necessary shade and shelter, and young children were permitted to climb fences to get close to camels without staff members present.
Since paying the fine, the park notes it has gone through "four inspections all of which resulted in zero violations."
