I, Gabrielle Derrey, was an employee of Babby farms during the summer of 2021. I quit after a few months due to sexual harassment from management.

Babby Farms is a non-profit petting zoo in Caldwell, Idaho which boasts a simple mission: “To give children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy of interacting with a wide range of animals.”

The organization owns a wide range of animals, including exotic animals such as Zebras, Primates, and Cats.

During my employment I witnessed animal mistreatment to the extreme, many animals died and management has done nothing to mitigate this cruelty. I, and other staff members witnessed these animals suffering but no matter how much the staff spoke up, our voices were never heeded. 

Animal Cruelty is a world wide problem.
In the case regarding Babby Farms, this specific Zoo seems to care more about its profit than the health of its animals. The most recent travesty I witnessed was the death of Zeus the Zebra who passed away from starvation in October 2021. The pictures provided are from September 2021. The staff found out soon after he passed that there have been around 5-7 zebras in the past years that this zoo has gone through, he was the 3rd to be replaced and named Zeus. (Although they were spelled Zuse, Zeus, and Zues.)

Prince, a pony used for pony rides who is as emaciated now as Zeus was prior to his death, has been diagnosed with Laminitis. Laminitis, commonly referred to as Founder, is due to restricted blood flow to the hoof commonly caused by an overabundance of stress, overwork and poor diet. Laminitis can be excruciatingly painful for an animal and commonly requires euthanasia.

Prince was still giving daily pony rides upon my exit from the company. A pony ride nets Babby Farms $3.

Another issue which arose during my few months of employment concerned a Binturong named Bobay.

Binturongs are a critically endangered species. Bobay was very young and needed veterinary care, she instead was given pedialyte. When she finally received proper care it was too late and she passed away.

Blu and Rio were blue and gold Macaws and chuckles was a Kookaburra. The three animals were homed outside, staff suggested moving them inside and were told no. All three animals died soon after from suffocation by gnats.

The larger primates on the farm are being neglected and have a lack of interaction.
This is causing the Black handed spider monkeys to be aggressive and the Black capped capuchin to constantly rock with a blanket. Staff is told to tell visitors she is just rocking it like a baby or “being cute” when in reality it is stress response.

In the span of two years, 7 otters have died.

Sushi, Saki, and Shashimi were the first otters to be obtained by this farm, they all passed away from recurrent kidney injury and cancer. After these otters passed away, Ying and Yang were brought to the farm. They were too young; the stress was too much and they both died a few weeks ago.

In the summer of 2020 another set of otters were purchased and renamed Ying and Yang. There was also an unnamed third baby otter that was bought by the farm.

Ying and the unnamed baby died shortly after arrival. More otters were then brought in as replacements. Yang is currently living in a cage with little to no sunlight and is never socialized with.

Three new babies were brought in the summer of 2021: Zhi, Pascal, and Zhang. As of my departure the otter food budget has been cut when if anything it should have been increased.

All of the animals have been starving.
When seasonal staff inquired about public donations the owner and management stated “Absolutely not”.

The non seasonal staff includes two managers who are in charge of budgeting and feeding the animals as well as a zookeeper who is trying her hardest to keep these poor animals alive with the limited resources that she is given.

We need your help to raise awareness and SHUT DOWN Babby Farms. These animals are being starved and neglected. The seasonal staff from years passed and this current season have all come together to fight this for cause, but we cannot do it alone.

What joy is there to be had interacting with abused animals?

Shut it down.

Do your part, sign the petition.

In Loving memory of those lives lost in the past few years because of this “farm”

Celine sloth

Unnamed baby owl

Pine the African crested porcupine 

Zulu, Zeus, Zuse and Zues 

Elsa the pony

Flash the sloth

Bobay the bear-cat

Bobae the bear-cat

Ying, Yang, Saki, Sushi, Ying, Shashimi

Walter the AMAZING PIG 

Rio and Blu the Blue and gold macaws

Chuckles the kookaburra

Bobby the lemur 

Merlin the raven (released when he needed vet care) 

The many Rabbits

The many Goats

The many Sheep

Chewy the llama

Mochi the spotted leopard

Guinea pigs

Bush baby

Sika deer x2 One drowned one unk

Baby emus in 2020

Shela the baby bettrong

Boomer the llama 

Pumpkin the pony

Eclipsa and baby

Litter of piglets 

Percy the cavy

Wallaby's unknown number

Herman the Tortoise 

and many more....

We do not need money, we need support.

But while we fight the aminals are still hungry. We plead to the public to please go donate fresh or frozen fresh water fish and any raw meat or bones, carcasses from hunting. Please help them!