At Zoological Wildlife Foundation in Miami, a female clouded leopard named Petra lost her entire left leg in January after staff attempted to breed her with a male in an adjacent enclosure. The two animals were separated by a wall with a gap at the bottom. When Petra reached her paw through the gap, the male attacked it. Her leg was amputated. That same month, a female capybara died after being housed with a male for six weeks for breeding purposes. The zoo's owner later told federal inspectors he was "100% certain" the male killed the female while trying to mate with her.

Federal inspectors from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) visited ZWF on March 30 and cited both incidents as critical violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, which requires that animals housed together or near each other be compatible. Inspectors also documented dilapidated and unsafe housing conditions, filthy cages, and food and water contaminated with algae and dead insects.

ZWF is owned by Mario Tabraue, a former cocaine trafficker who served 12 years of a 100-year sentence on narcotics and racketeering charges. Tabraue appeared in the hit Netflix documentary Tiger King and is reportedly the inspiration for the 1983 film Scarface. His facility charges up to $1,500 an hour for "field trips" involving direct contact with wild animals including alligators, arctic foxes, and ball pythons. After Petra's amputation, ZWF posted a video of her on social media and asked the public to donate money toward her veterinary bill.

This is not the first time. ZWF received a critical federal citation in 2021 after a lion cub bit a child. The facility has a documented history of injuries to both handlers and guests. "The facility chases profits at the expense of animal welfare, and animals are paying with their lives and limbs at this hideous roadside zoo," said Klayton Rutherford, director of captive wildlife advocacy at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

The USDA ordered immediate rectification following the March inspection. As of publication, the agency has not confirmed whether a follow-up inspection has taken place. Clouded leopards are an endangered species.

Miami Seaquarium was shut down. Sloth World never opened after dozens of sloths died in its care. ZWF has now injured an endangered animal and killed another in a single month, with a track record of violations stretching back years. There is no version of this business model that is compatible with animal welfare.

We're calling on the USDA to revoke ZWF's Animal Welfare Act license immediately, on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to investigate the facility under state law, and on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to direct state agencies to act against roadside zoos that have accumulated repeated federal violations.