The Garold Wayne Interactive Zoological Foundation
| Date opened | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Location | Wynnewood, Oklahoma |
| Coordinates | 34°37′32.33″N 97°12′40.03″W / 34.6256472°N 97.2111194°W |
| Land area | 16 acres (6.5 ha) |
| Number of animals | 1400 |
| Number of species | 128 |
| Website |
www |
The Garold Wayne Interactive Zoological Foundation ceased operations in Feb 2016, formerly known as G.W. Exotic Animal Memorial Foundation[1] and the The Garold Wayne Interactive Zoological Park,[2] was a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in the United States. The organization's stated purpose was to provide care and shelter for exotic animals. It was founded in 1997 by the Schreibvogel Family of Springer, Oklahoma in memory of their late son Garold Schreibvogel (G.W.) who died in an automobile accident by a drunk driver.[3][4] The current president is Joe Schreibvogel.[5][6]
The park was purchased and re opened by a South Carolina businessman as the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park LLC in 2016.
Establishment
The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park is situated on 16 acres (6.5 ha) and began as a shelter for endangered and exotic species of animals. It currently houses and cares for over 128 species of animals and over 215 big cats.[7] In total, the park has approximately 1400 animals under its care and shelter during the year.[2]
The park itself offers tours and educational programs for visitors, all in keeping with the Garold Wayne Interactive Zoological Foundation's history of advocacy for the animals it hosts.[2] The park has been visited by people from all fifty states, along with international visitors from over two hundred countries.[8]
Breeding program
The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park breeds a selected number of tiger, lions, and bears.[9] The animal park has been breeding exotic animals since 1997.[2]
Accusations of animal abuse
In 2004, the former animal park was accused by animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) of harboring dying and injured animals in crowded conditions with a lack of food, water, veterinary care and insufficient and untrained staff. These complaints were partially based on a Consent Decision and Order from the United States Department of Agriculture for willful violations of the Animal Welfare Act. In its decision, the USDA claimed that the park failed to provide adequate veterinary care, safe enclosures, clean food, clean shelter, and trained employees. The park failed to maintain records and to keep animals safely constrained to avoid injuries to the public. It was fined $25,000 and its USDA display permit was suspended but reinstated when it complied with USDA regulations.[1]
Between February and June 2006 PETA had an investigator pose as a G.W. Exotic Animal Foundation employee.[10] The group subsequently released footage.[11] PETA alleged that animals were starved and "routinely hit, punched, kicked, sprayed with cold water, and struck with rakes and shovels."[12][13]
From 2009 to 2010, 23 tiger cubs died at the park.[14] Schreibvogel asserts that the deaths were due to "bad formula." The USDA is currently conducting an investigation into the issue.[15]
In 2011, Inside Edition ran a segment focusing on the park's traveling tiger exhibit. Cubs are taken to malls across the United States, where visitors can pay to interact with them.[16] Cubs were noted to be sickly and distressed. The Born Free Foundation criticized the attraction, stating that it exploited the cubs and endangered the public.[16]
In 2012, the Humane Society of the United States released video taken by an undercover investigator. It included footage of a tiger being dragged across gravel, big cats being hit, and Schreibvogel instructing staff to smack cubs to make them walk.[17][18] HSUS claimed that 5 tigers died during their investigation, one of which did not receive veterinary care.[18]
In May 2014, the USDA cited the park for failure to provide adequate veterinary care. According to officials, an injured bear's wound reopened and an employee attempted to stitch it. The injury became subsequently worse and the bear was euthanized.[19]
Other activities
The park also has a 20.6 mile lake resort with camping and fishing. The lake is stocked with fish and primitive camping and cabins are available.[20]
The new owner has started construction on a 5 screen Drive-In theater adjacent to the zoo entrance. He has also announce the creation of an exotic animal training facility, to train zoological students the proper husbandry of large exotic animals.
The park is licensed by the State of Oklahoma as a rendering facility.[21] Former President Joe Schreibvogel was hired to continue his daily onsite tiger show.[22]
The park was featured in a BBC documentary hosted by UK-based journalist Louis Theroux, titled America's Most Dangerous Pets.[23][24]
Accidents and incidents
A six-month-old tiger cub scratched a worker at the Northgate Mall in Cincinnati, Ohio. The cub was on display as part of the park's traveling tiger attraction. The employee described "blood everywhere."[16]
The footage released from the HSUS investigation included a video of a young child being bitten a tiger cub, which Schreibvogel asserts the organization staged. Wayne Pacelle criticized the park for allowing public contact with "dangerous wild animals" and referred to the park as "a ticking time bomb."[17] Schreibvogel responded that "It is a ticking time bomb - if somebody thinks they're going to walk in here and take my animals away, it's going to be a small Waco."[17] HSUS claims that the investigator became aware of 6 instances where visitors were bitten or scratched during animal interactions.[18]
On October 5, 2013, a female worker was attacked by a tiger after she stuck her hand inside its cage. The tiger grabbed her left arm and pulled it through a 4-inch square hole. She was taken to a hospital and treated for severe injuries.[25] The employee announced her intent to return to work after recovery. According to Schreibvogel, she is expected to undergo multiple surgeries for two years.[26]
In April 2014, OSHA fined the park 5,000 USD for failing to provide protective barriers in bear and cat cages, lacking a "written hazard communication program", not keeping a log of staff injury and illness, and for the October 2013 tiger attack.[27] In December 2014, Schreibvogel was allegedly diagnosed with tuberculosis and brucellosis, both of which are transferable to humans and animals. PETA called on the Oklahoma State Veterinarian and USDA to quarantine the facility and test employees.[28]
Location
The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park is located between Oklahoma City and Dallas at Exit 64 on Interstate 35.[2]
References
- 1 2 "Department of Agriculture Docket # 05-0014" (PDF). Retrieved 23 February 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "G.W. Exotic Home Page". Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ↑ GW About Us, retrieved 22 May 2012
- ↑ Webb, Dennis (April 24, 2007). "Animal activists praise shopping center". Vail Daily. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
- ↑ "Biography of Joe Exotic". Retrieved 23 February 2010.
- ↑ "Magician: I should get to defend myself". April 1, 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- ↑ Holliday, Hailee (December 27, 2007). "Are Exotic Animals to Blame for Recent San Francisco Zoo Killing?". KTEN News. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
- ↑ "G.W. Exotic Animal Park Zoo". Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ↑ "Rare Tiger Species". Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ↑ Surette, Rusty (January 11, 2011). "PETA Allegedly Paid Man To 'Spy, Download Information' From Exotic Animal Park". Retrieved July 28, 2011.
- ↑ "Misery and Cruelty at G.W. Exotic Animals Memorial Park in Oklahoma: A PETA Investigation". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ↑ "G.W. Exotic Animal Memorial Park Investigator's Log—Neglect". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
- ↑ "Oklahoma Pseudo-Sanctuary: Shelter From Danger or Dangerous Shelter?". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ↑ Olafson, Steve (May 17, 2012). "G.W. Exotic Animal Park Lets Kids Play With Tigers, Humane Society Accuses". Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ↑ "INSIDE EDITION Investigates Tigers as Shopping Mall Attractions". November 28, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- 1 2 3 "Inside Edition exposes G.W. Exotic Animal Memorial Park". Inside Edition. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
- 1 2 3 "Alleged abuse at GW Exotic Animal Park seen on tape". May 16, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- 1 2 3 "'If they walk in here and take my animals away, it's going to be a small Waco': Zoo owner's pledge after being accused of letting children play with tigers". May 16, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ↑ "G.W. Interactive Zoological Park under fire for alleged animal mistreatment". May 22, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
- ↑ "G.W. Exotic Animal Park Opens New Lake Area Resort". Retrieved 2011-07-28.
- ↑ "Rendering Licenses" (PDF). Retrieved 23 February 2010.
- ↑ "About Big Cat Rescue". June 29, 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ↑ Rees, Jasper (October 31, 2011). "Louis Theroux: America's Most Dangerous Pets, BBC Two/ Misfits, Series 3, E4". The Arts Desk. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
- ↑ "Louis Theroux, America's Most Dangerous Pets". BBC Two. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
- ↑ "Oklahoma: Zoo Worker’s Arm Bitten by Tiger at Garold Wayne". Epoch Times. Retrieved 5August 16, 2014. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Oklahoma tiger attack survivor issues statement, vows to return to work". News OK. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ↑ "Wynnewood zoo fined by Occupational Safety and Health Administration after tiger attack". News OK. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
- ↑ "Possible Tuberculosis, Brucellosis outbreak at Oklahoma interactive zoo". News Channel 4 (Kfor). Retrieved January 5, 2015.