Robert Engesser, d.b.a. The Zoo

USDA License #58-C-0295
P.O. Box 2060, Chiefland, FL 32644

 

Robert Engesser’s traveling exhibit, The Zoo, has repeatedly failed to meet minimal federal standards for the care of animals used in exhibition as established in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited The Zoo numerous times for failing to provide proper food and water sources and adequate veterinary care, for failing to provide environmental enrichment to primates, for failing to maintain enclosures and transport trailers, and for poor housekeeping. A leopard from The Zoo attacked a 5-year-old girl, causing injuries. The exhibit has traveled under the names Engesser’s Exotic Felines, Luce Enterprises, and Endangered Species, Inc., in the past. Contact PETA for documentation.

Animals in recent inventories include lions, tigers, lemurs, sheep, goats, a cow, a llama, a camel, a leopard, and a baboon.

January 24, 2005: A Hernando Today article about an exotic-animal auction in Florida described Pat Engessor as a big cat breeder who had been in business for “more than 30 years.” Engesser said that she attended the auction with the hope of selling lion cubs to other breeders. Animals sold at such auctions often end up at canned hunts, in the “pet” trade, or at poorly run roadside zoos.

March 1, 2002: The USDA cited The Zoo for allowing children to come into direct contact with animals without supervision during exhibition. For the third time, the USDA cited the facility for failing to develop and implement an environment enrichment plan for primates. The baboon and a lemur were exhibiting stereotypic behavior.

August 22, 2001: During an inspection, the USDA noted that the baboon’s stereotypic behavior was still not being addressed.

May 24, 2001: The USDA cited The Zoo for failing to provide environment enrichment to a baboon housed alone or to the ring-tailed lemurs. The baboon was seen pacing and head-rolling. A lion cub was being fed an inadequate diet of goat milk replacer. Water containers for the camel and llama were covered in algae.

August 17, 2000: The Zoo was cited for failing to provide proper veterinary care to a tiger cub suffering from metabolic bone disease due to lack of proper diet and to a leopard with several areas of missing hair.

June 28, 2000: During a complaint- based inspection, the USDA cited The Zoo for failing to provide adequate food to animals.

November 4, 1999: The USDA cited The Zoo for failing to store food to protect against deterioration, mold, or contamination by vermin.

April 30, 1999: The Zoo was cited for keeping a tiger cub in a cage in which he was unable to turn about freely and make normal postural adjustments. The exhibit was again cited for failing to maintain proper veterinary records to document that an underweight elephant was receiving proper medical attention.

January 28, 1999: The USDA cited The Zoo for failing to provide an inclusive program of veterinary care, including measures to prevent zoonosis. A lion cub transmitted ringworm to other animals and a caretaker. The facility was also cited for failing to keep enclosures and food storage areas in good repair. A dead tiger cub was found in the freezer, having died of an unknown (“probably infectious”) respiratory illness.

July 24, 1998: During a complaint- based inspection, the USDA cited The Zoo for failing to maintain enclosures adequate to prevent animals from escaping. The exhibitor was also cited for lack of a proper program of veterinary care.

August 15, 1996: A Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., official wrote to Engesser, instructing him to cease exhibiting animals at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club locations because this was a violation of their corporate policy.

April 24, 1996: The USDA cited The Zoo for failing to maintain transport enclosures in good repair.

November 7, 1995: The Zoo was cited for improper storage of supplies, for failing to maintain enclosures in good repair, and for a lack of proper water sources for three leopards.

May 20, 1995: In a letter to the owners of The Zoo, the attending veterinarian noted observations that the big cats were overweight and stated that a leopard’s tail had to be amputated.

May 15, 1995: The Zoo was cited for failing to maintain enclosures in order to prevent injury to animals.

March 2, 1995: The USDA cited The Zoo for housing goats, sheep, and llamas in enclosures in which they could not make normal postural adjustments. It was again cited for failing to provide enrichment to a baboon who was constantly pacing and picking at her skin—a sign of zoochosis. There was also no record of veterinary care, and an elephant was observed to be thin.

October 12, 1994: The USDA cited The Zoo for failing to store food in order to prevent contamination and to maintain transport containers in good repair.

June 10, 1994: The Zoo was cited for failing to store food properly to prevent contamination. The baboon was exhibiting stereotypic behavior indicative of zoochosis.

March 8-11, 1994: During this inspection, the USDA cited The Zoo for failing to maintain enclosures in good repair and for failing to store bedding to prevent contamination. A male tiger was noted as underweight and suffering from a lame paw. The Zoo staff was not able to provide records to account for the whereabouts of all animals. Enclosures and perimeter fencing were noted to be inadequate to safely contain animals. The camel’s water source was found to be filled with algae and silt.

February 11, 1994: The USDA cited The Zoo for failing to implement an environment enrichment program for primates, and the lemurs did not have access to a den to which they could retreat from the public. Food was noted to be stored in a manner in which it could become contaminated, and enclosures were noted to be in disrepair.

May 11, 1993: The USDA cited The Zoo for housing lemurs, lions, and tigers in transport containers.

August 9, 1990: According to the Rapid City Journal, a leopard attacked and mauled a 5-year-old girl while on display at the Black Hills Motor Classic in South Dakota. Reportedly, the leopard, who was restrained with a small chain fastened to a box, leaped on the girl’s back as she walked past him.