MUNCIE, Ind. (WTHR) - Pictures of exotic animals kept in cages, petted by children and posing for family photos are upsetting some people in Muncie. But it turns out the traveling Jungle Safari is not breaking any laws.
Critics say the free entertainment for kids is coming at the expense and mistreatment of animals. Local federal inspectors say otherwise.
The Traveling Jungle Safari sounded too good for Lisi Lee and her 9-year-old to pass up. "I am not positive what I expected but I didn't expect what I saw," Lee said.
She photographed animals she said appeared mistreated and neglected, kept in small cages, some with little bedding. A small kangaroo she said looked really sick.
"We were there for 20 minutes, never saw it move at all," she said, "my daughter thought it was dead."
Muncie's Animal Care and Education center is getting lots of complaints.
Its director, Phil Peckinpaugh, inspected the petting zoo and said he didn't find a single violation.
"Cages and enclosures are sanitary, clean. We didn't see any signs of animal abuse all the animals appear to be in good health. Everyone was vaccinated," he explained.
Robert Neser owns and operates the Safari, "All of these animals have been raised by us," he said.
Engesser welcomed Eyewitness News inside the tent to look around. The cages were clean. The bedding was fresh. The animals appeared cared for, healthy and alert.
Admission is free. There are charges for animal food and for posing for pictures with some of more exotic animals.
Engesser denies claims of animal abuse. He showed Eyewitness News what he says are the three most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections. The USDA found no violations.
"These guys are our babies," Engesser said. "Their physiological needs are met. Their dietary needs are met. They interact with us. They interact with others."
But others like Lee aren't convinced the animals are ok. "It looks like they are being neglected, vastly grossly neglected," she said.
Although he found no violations, Peckinpaugh didn't like what he saw. He's behind a countywide ordinance banning traveling exotic animal shows and petting zoos.
"I would definitely make the argument it's wrong to keep a camel in a 10x10 (foot) enclosure," he said.
From Muncie, Engesser said the Jungle Safari returns home to Florida.
The animals are traded off with others, next stop, Illinois.