Mini S Exotic Zoo Holds Animals by the NECK

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse than what the fruit bats suffered at Mini S Exotic Zoo, others are coming forward about what happens out of view of the public eye.

Note that Mini S Exotic Zoo in Mineola, Texas also laughingly goes by C.A.R.E.S: Conservation & Advocacy For Rare & Endangered Species.

One visitor writes:

While there we happened to walk by a building and see a marmoset looking out through the window. We walked in and couldn't believe what we saw. Tiny and filthy cages with no light on at 1:00 PM in the afternoon. No UVA/UVB lighting and completely improper cages. A staff member came running in and when we asked "why," we were told that they were "just breeders." We walked out and over to the next building. Same story. Quite a few tiny cages with no light or enrichment items. All told we probably saw 12-15 pairs of marmosets and even some endangered cotton top tamarins in deplorable conditions. My wife just started crying."


Another visitor wrote:

I noticed she has been getting involved in trapping and so has the guy who stole my animals.  I have a suspicion that both of them are trapping animals in order to keep as live inventory for breeding and selling offspring to make money."


This photo also surfaced of a poor baby skunk being mishandled at Mini S Exotic Zoo.

This photo has since been removed from the Mini S Exotic Zoo Facebook Page.

Note that PETA has been investigating Mini S Exotic for years.

Mini S Zoo in Mineola, Texas has since closed it's doors to the public stating they are under attack by animal rights activists. If Mini S Zoo had nothing to hide they would allow visitors inside the hell-hole sheds where they keep the "breeders" and other, helpless poor animals that are allegedly being subjected to neglect, abuse and cruelty.

Places like Mini S Exotic Zoo, who try to disguise themselves as a conservation organization, should all be shut down and owners like Michelle Smith should be deeply ashamed. There is a special place in hell reserved for the likes of her.

Mini S Exotic Zoo Neglects and Sells Bats into the Cruel Exotic Pet Trade

In late December of 2019, an issue was brought to the attention of Bat World Sanctuary (BWS) in Texas by Second Chances Wildlife Center (SCWC) in Kentucky. The issue involved SCWC rescuing eight Egyptian fruit bats in Texas. BWS offered guidance and help as the bats were located in Texas.

The report from BWS is as follows:

On January 7th, 2020 we received a call from SCWC, who had just picked up their procured bats from what we then learned was the Mini S Exotic Zoo located in  Mineola, Texas, owned by Michelle Smith. SCWC reported to us that the remaining bats at the zoo desperately needed to be rescued before they entered the pet trade. The exhibit was closing in order to make room for an anteater. The conditions they reported at Mini S Zoo were as follows (photos below):

• 60 bats were being kept in an outbuilding (approximately 10’ x 12’), inside an enclosure that measured approximately 4’ wide by 8’ long by 10’ tall.
• No windows, natural light or fresh air was available in the small building.
• The building smelled heavily of ammonia.
• No water or fresh food was available. One dish, located on the floor, contained rotten apple slices and was contaminated with bat feces and urine. Bat dishes should always be hung from the ceiling within easy reach for bats.
• Wood shavings were on the floor, covered in excrement and urine. Roaches were visible.
• Two bats had injuries. One pitiful female Egyptian fruit bat had only one leg and that leg was severely broken and badly infected.  She was so debilitated that she feebly crawled across the filthy floor, dragging her broken leg.  She did not have the ability to reach the cage ceiling or her roostmates so she was condemned to live on the filthy, roach infested floor.
• SCWC asked if they could have the one-legged bat to get her medical attention. Michelle Smith denied their request and would only release the suffering bat if SCWC paid for the bat. SCWC bought the bat so she could receive the help she desperately needed.
• Aside from a few sharp twigs hanging in the cage, no enrichment was available.

SCWC took  8 bats, which left a total of 52 still needing help. This number included 10 Egyptian fruit bats and 42 Seba bats. We immediately called the zoo owner, Michelle Smith, to make arrangements to procure the remaining 52 bats. Although we never approve of purchasing bats, in order to get these bats out of their horrendous situation as quickly as possible and keep them out of the pet trade, we were forced to buy them. Michelle Smith described that the Seba bats were rare and possessed a black‐and‐white gene that could make us a “lot of money”.  Michelle Smith went on to say that all of the other black and white Seba bats she had died during a “temperature crisis”, which means the bats were not provided heat or air conditioning as necessary to protect them.  Michelle Smith also bragged that BWS is the only group who got adults, the others sold were all babies. All 52 bats were rescued on Thursday, Jan. 9th, 2020. The conditions at Mini S Zoo were as follows:

• The bat exhibit had the same issues as outlined above.
• The bats had already been crated when we arrived. We were told that the bats had been in the crates since Wednesday, in excess of 24 hours.
• Food was available in the crates but it appeared to have just been placed there as nothing was eaten.
• We immediately transferred the bats to our own appropriate transport carriers and gave them our own fresh food and water. The bats immediately started to devour the fresh fruit.
• One of the seba bats had an injured nose-leaf that was almost torn off. She is currently receiving treatment at BWS for her injury
• Another seba bat had her head stuck in the wire and her head was almost scalped. She is also receiving treatment at BWS for her injury.
• Some of the bats had babies and others were heavily pregnant. One anguished and apparently exhausted mother seba bat appeared to be using all of her strength to support herself and her baby on the side of an inappropriate wire cage.
• Four to five sloths were also housed in the building. They were in small, individual cages with no enrichment, food or water. One of the sloths was pacing.

While we were in the middle of our rescue, Michelle Smith informed us that she had sold a young female bat from the group of Egyptians to a man in Missouri. Our hearts sank at this knowledge. Egyptian fruit bats form very strong family units for life. Offspring stay with their mothers for up to two years. We pressed Michelle, on a daily basis, in order to obtain the buyers contact information and we finally received it almost a week later. We then made arrangements to also get this one lone pup from MO to TX and thankfully, she is now with us and back with her family. At Mini S Exotic Zoo, no consideration was ever given to these bats other than what profit can be made off of them. The animals we observed were confined to a dark, windowless outbuilding with no fresh air, food or water and nothing whatsoever to occupy their intelligent minds. But more is to fault besides animal dealers like Michelle Smith. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)  is sorely lacking in minimum standards for bats in particular, enabling places like the Mini S Exotic Zoo to get away with the mistreatment of bats. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is also to blame in that some of these zoos, even the accredited ones, allow bats to over-breed and then leak the excess into the pet trade as well as research.

Please join us in sending a message to both the USDA and the AZA that leaking bats into research and the pet trade must stop!

PLEASE ALSO SIGN THE PETITION!

Photo Evidence

[caption id="attachment_12969" align="alignleft" width="1200"] The 4’ wide x 8’ long by 10’ high bat enclosure that housed 60 bats who were severely overcrowded and unable to fly. Sharp twigs were the only cage furniture.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_12970" align="alignleft" width="1204"] The filthy floor of the bat enclosure showing a dish containing rotten apple slices, contaminated with feces and urine[/caption] [caption id="attachment_12971" align="alignleft" width="1549"] Left" An Egyptian fruit bat with one leg, which is broken and badly infected. The injury is being treated by SCWC in Kentucky. Right:A radiograph showing the severity of the break.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_12972" align="alignleft" width="1626"] Left: The seba with her head trapped between the cage wire. Apparently she spent the entire night like this. Left: The injury caused to the bat with her head trapped. The skin on her scalp between her ears was peeled back and barely attached to her head but we were able to repair that section. The remaining injury to the back of her neck is currently being treated.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_12973" align="alignleft" width="1167"] Left: A text from Mini S Exotic Zoo about the supposed worth of the seba bats. Right: An ad posted by Mini S Exotic Zoo on Facebook[/caption]

We are so appreciative that we were in a position to get these suffering, abused bats to safety and out of harm’s way.  The males have been neutered and the mothers are being allowed to raise their babies and keep them for life. Many of the bats are still very frightened so our focus is making sure these beautiful beings understand they will not be going anywhere else; they truly are safe in their forever home with dozens of others just like them. They will be able to fly freely in indoor-outdoor enclosures and eat all of the nourishing food their little bellies can hold.  We have been offered two matching grants totaling $15,000 if we can raise that same amount. Please help us help these bats, and all the others still waiting to be rescued by donating here:

Flying Fox Conservation Fund - is this really conservation?

Scott Heinrichs calls his organization the "Flying Fox Conservation Fund" (FFCF) but is it really conservation? Would a true bat conservationist keep bats in his basement, breed them, pull youngsters off of their mothers and sell them as pets?

Unfortunately, this appears to be the real story behind the Flying Fox Conservation Fund. And what Scot Heinrichs likely doesn't tell you is that bats bond for life, families stay together for life in the wild (imagine having your 6 year old ripped from your arms and sold to a stranger, never to be seen again). That is the equivalent of what happens when bat pups are pulled off of their mothers and sold for an average of $800 to $2,500 each. Plus, the buyer is likely not told that the "pet bat" they just bought WILL IN ALL LIKELIHOOD BE DEAD WITHIN A YEAR.

One of the unfortunate babies that FFCF ripped away
from its mother to be sold as a pet. Click to enlarge

When you look at the FFCF Google page you see that it's located in Chicago in a home, a "two-flat" home, not a spacious facility where bats are allowed freedom to fly and enjoy quality of life. Is this what you would expect from an organization that calls itself a conservation fund? Not only that, according to their very own website, they share this "two-flat" space with all of these animals: "Sloth, Fennec Fox, Armadillo, Kinkajou, Civet, Fruit Bat, Chinchilla, Ferret, Bearded Dragon, Crested Gecko, Boa Constrictor, Tree Frog, Pancake Tortoise, Tarantula, Hissing Roaches, Walking Sticks, Solomon Island Parrot, Lion Head Rabbit"

Lastly, this photo speaks volumes. This poor, heavily pregnant fruit bat is being held up by her delicate wings by Scott Heinrichs. If this doesn't scream total disrespect for an animal the FFCF touts to "conserve" then what does?

Scott Heinrichs holds a pregnant bat up by her delicate wings

Also see:

Pet Bat Information
Rescue Echo (Lisa's Creatures)
PetBat.netTop Ten Worst Pets

Zoological Wildlife Conservation Center - is this REALLY conservation?

Here are a few comments directly from the Zoological Wildlife Conservation Center's web page:

"...Our primary focus is on the long-term physical, mental and emotional care of captive wildlife populations. ...So when we sat down to write our "Mission Statement" we looked at hundreds of examples from our larger, albeit more powerful, brethren and realized one very moving thing, WE PUT THE ANIMALS FIRST ...We strive to develop ways to apply findings, no matter how minute, to the captive wildlife species in our care in an effort to develop advanced husbandry protocols for the betterment of captive held wildlife."

So why then, is the Zoological Wildlife Conservation Center selling Egyptian fruit bats into the cruel, exotic pet trade, knowing that these animal are doomed to a miserable short existence in tiny cages. Notice the Zoological Wildlife Conservation Center is selling pregnant bats, who will likely abort or abandon their pup because of the horrific life they have been sold in to?

This is one of the ads the Zoological Wildlife Conservation Center has placed on the internet. Notice the complete lack of enrichment and lack of a sufficient place to hide in this sad photo of the bats. What happened to "...our primary focus is on the long-term physical, mental and emotional care of captive wildlife populations." ???




Of course, the Zoological Wildlife Conservation Center's ad does not contain the information that the high price paid for these bats will be wasted when the bats die, likely within the very first year.
The Zoological Wildlife Conservation Center is no better than the "Flying Fox Conservation Fund" in taking the highest dollar possible for bats at the unsuspecting buyers expense.

BUYER BEWARE!


Also see:
Pet Bat Information
Rescue Echo (Lisa's Creatures)
PetBat.net
Top Ten Worst Pets

Noah's Landing Zoo Breeds Bats for the Cruel Exotic Pet Trade

Here are a few comments directly from Noah's Landing Zoo's web page

"... offer enrichment, safety, and comfort to our animals. ...Demonstrate the importance of preservation and conservation ...and respect for the world around us."
So why then, is the Noah's Landing Zoo selling baby fruit bats into the cruel, exotic pet trade, knowing that these animal are doomed to a miserable existence and certain death? Could it be that the almighty dollar was more important than the lives of these innocent animals?

This is one of the ads the Noah's Landing Zoo has placed on the internet. What happened to "... offer enrichment, safety, and comfort to our animals. ...Demonstrate the importance of preservation and conservation ...and respect for the world around us." ???

Noahs Landing Zoo sells baby bats into the cruel exotic pet trade

Of course, Noah's Landing Zoo's ad not contain the fact that the high price paid for these bats was wasted when the bats died, likely within the very first year.

Shame on you, Noah's Landing Zoo. These animals deserved better.


Also see:
Pet Bat Information
Rescue Echo (Lisa's Creatures)
PetBat.net
Top Ten Worst Pets

Exotic Animals For Sale - BUYER BEWARE

The site "Exotic Animals for Sale" is ILLEGALLY USING COPYRIGHTED to lure people to purchase a bat from the cruel exotic pet trade. They don't include the likely fact that BATS DON'T SURVIVE WHEN KEPT AS PETS.

Their ad states:
"Bats for sale... Why just look at bats when you can own a bat as a pet"

ExoticAnimalsforSale is using copyrighted photos to lure people to purchase bats as pets

Nowhere in the ad does it tell you that bats typically die within the first year of attempting to keep one as a pet, and the $800 to $2,500 a buyer spent on a "pet bat" is money wasted.

Mark Rosenthal's Animal Magic - BUYER BEWARE

From the Animal Magic, Inc website:

Through our ever-popular, live performances, we have shared our knowledge, respect and appreciation for the animals that share our planet.  Educating the public and promoting conservation are just a couple of the many ways we show our commitment to the animal kingdom.  When local animal control officers are confronted with a dangerous exotic, we’re sent in to rescue the often illegally obtained “pet.”  Our fully licensed “Haven” program also accepts most exotic animals (including venomous snakes) from private citizens.  We are dedicated to helping those who have discovered that owning this type of “pet” is unfair to the animal, potentially dangerous and far more difficult than they imagined.

Why then, did they sell this poor bat into the "unfair" and cruel exotic pet trade?  It is common knowledge that bats rarely survive more than a year when kept as a pet.

Mark Rosenthal, Animal Magic, sells a bat into the cruel exotic pet trade

From the ad:

This is an animal rarely offered for sale.....a 2 1/2 year old, captive bred, female, giant straw colored fruit bat. We acquired two of these magnificent bats last year (they are sisters) and really only needed one. This one (Stella) is extremely friendly.

It appears that Mark Rosenthal of Animal Magic does not practice what he preaches. And what Mark Rosenthal likely did not disclose to the buyer is that bats bond for life, families stay together for life in the wild (imagine having your 6 year old ripped from your arms and sold to a stranger, never to be seen again). That is the equivalent of what happens when bat pups are pulled off of their mothers and sold for an average of $800 to $2,500 each.  Plus, the buyer was likely not told that the "pet bat" they just bought WILL IN ALL LIKELIHOOD BE DEAD WITHIN A YEAR.

Lastly, the Animal Magic site hides behind this false statement:
"We are often asked about our position on the private ownership  of exotic animals.  Although they are beautiful and fascinating,  many exotics do not make good pets.  But that does not mean we discourage ownership of all exotics! Some can be  outstanding assets for teaching children about responsibility,  zoology and conservation (Examples are bearded dragons,  skinks, tarantulas, corn snakes, etc.).  Additionally, some are  wonderful pets that can live happy, long lives.  How do you  distinguish a mistake from a good choice?  Before you buy an  exotic, ask yourself ... Is it fair to the animal?... "

What happened to Stella was far from FAIR, it was despicable.