ROYAL OAK, Mich., January 12, 2010 – The Detroit Zoo is providing expert assistance in the care of more than 27,000 animals seized last month in Arlington, Texas, from U.S. Global Exotics, an international exotic animal dealer.  Six Zoo animal curators and supervisors have been working in Dallas for the past four weeks to help triage, identify and care for the confiscated animals, many seriously ill, at a temporary rescue facility.

Officials with the City of Arlington carried out the raid, the largest such rescue ever in the U.S., on December 15 after obtaining evidence gathered during a seven-month long People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) undercover investigation.  PETA documented cruel conditions and the suffering of animals such as ring-tailed lemurs, wallabies, sloths and other small mammals, as well as snakes, turtles, lizards and frogs. 

The Detroit Zoo was contacted for assistance with the care and prospective placement of the rescued animals, seized with the help of animal protection groups including PETA, Humane Society of North Texas and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Texas.   The Zoo is frequently asked to help with the rescue of animals from private owners, pseudo-sanctuaries, roadside zoos, circuses and the exotic pet trade. 

“Often, the welfare needs of exotic animals in these environments cannot be adequately met and they end up in compromised conditions and in need of rescue by zoos and other animal welfare organizations,” said Scott Carter, Detroit Zoological Society Chief Life Sciences Officer. 

“We knew we could count on the Detroit Zoo to come to the aid of these abused animals,” said PETA vice-president Daphna Nachminovitch.  “The director and zoo staff have been indispensable, giving countless animals their first-ever expert touch and expert care, including the basics of clean water, nutritious food, enrichment, kindness and respect.”

After seven days of testimony, an Arlington municipal judge ruled last week that the animals were cruelly treated – confined in cramped and filthy cages and denied necessary food, water and veterinary care – and should not be returned to U.S. Global Exotics.  The company’s owners have until the end of this week to appeal the decision.

If the ruling stands, the SPCA of Texas will work to place the animals with zoos and sanctuaries to ensure that they are not put back into the pet trade or released into the wild.  The Detroit Zoo plans to provide a home for a number of the animals, including five wallabies, four sloths, three agoutis, two ring-tailed lemurs, two coatis, two kinkajous and hundreds of reptiles, spiders and amphibians.

The Detroit Zoo’s National Amphibian Conservation Center is a leader in amphibian conservation and research and is now helping with the largest rescue of captive amphibians in the U.S.  The animals rescued by the Zoo will be in quarantine upon arrival to ensure they are healthy and acclimating well before being released into their respective habitats.