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Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico has called for an independent investigation into allegations of animal neglect at the town’s Holtsville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve following the recent death of Honey, a black bear that lived at the facility for 25 years.
Panico said he has asked Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney’s office to probe the claims, which include reports of mistreatment and neglect raised by former employees of the center.
The Holtsville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve is operated by the Town of Brookhaven under its Highway Department, making the town directly responsible for the facility and the animals housed there. This measure, Panico said at press conference on Monday, is part of efforts to “protect animal welfare and ensure full transparency.”
“My staff reached out to district attorney representatives and the response was positive. And it’s my understanding that they will (investigate),” Panico said.
A spokeswoman for Tierney’s office declined to comment on the announcement, which comes amid rising tensions and protests of the popular zoo from animal rights activists, including a planned demonstration earlier this month by Humane Long Island during the site’s annual tree lighting ceremony.
“We have worked closely with the Suffolk County DA and his BEAST unit in the past, and we welcome their investigation into these serious allegations made by more than half a dozen former employees of the Holtsville Ecology Site,” Humane Long Island Executive Director John Di Leonardo said. “Humane Long Island applauds Supervisor Panico for calling on investigators and stands ready to assist authorities with placing these animals at reputable sanctuaries where they can live more natural lives.”
Protesters at the tree lighting demonstration brought a life-size mascot of Honey the bear and set out to draw attention to what they describe as “taxpayer-funded neglect” of animals at the zoo. Eight former employees have alleged that a culture of neglect has persisted for years, leading to the deaths of numerous animals, including Honey, who passed away at 27 years old last month, Di Leonardo said.
Honey, a black bear who had lived at the Holtsville Ecology Site for over a quarter-century, was considered a cornerstone of the center’s wildlife education efforts. However, former staff members and activists claim that her life was marked by neglect.
Cayleigh Kunnmann, a former animal preserve assistant at the site, said, “To say Honey deserved better is an understatement. Even as an icon of the ‘preserve,’ she was severely neglected — her pain went ignored, she was harassed by her caretakers, and she exhibited the stereotypic behaviors of a miserable captive animal with no enrichment in their life.”
Another former employee, Kathleen Conelly, said Honey died alone, neglected and in pain.
“We urged Holtsville to do the right thing just weeks before her death: to let Honey see a proper vet and send her to an accredited animal sanctuary, but they refused,” Conelly said. “Brookhaven must send the other animals to sanctuary now before it is too late.”
“There is going to be a lot more oversight now,” Panico said. “The care of animals in our custody is of paramount importance. And that’s what ultimately matters more than anything to me and my colleagues.”
Honey’s death came just weeks after efforts by Humane Long Island to have her evaluated by a large animal veterinarian and relocated to an accredited animal sanctuary were rebuffed by the town’s Highway Department, Di Leonardo said.
Humane Long Island accuses the department, headed up by Superintendent Dan Losquadro, of failing to provide adequate care for the animals at the site.
“It’s too late for Honey, but it’s not too late to save more than 100 animals who continue to suffer taxpayer-funded neglect at the Holtsville Ecology site,” Di Leonardo said earlier this month. “We’ve already secured reputable sanctuary placement for every single animal suffering at this garbage-dump-turned-zoo.”
Reports from former employees paint a grim picture of Honey’s life at the animal preserve.
They allege that she suffered from broken and rotten teeth without dental exams, chronic urinary tract infections, obesity from being hand-fed unnatural foods like marshmallow fluff, and psychological neglect that caused her to pace and sway. Staff dismissed these behaviors as “dancing” to the public, Di Leonardo said.
Honey and her brother and cage-mate Pooh, who died in 2019, were acquired over two decades ago from former Holtsville zoo director Larry Wallach. Wallach has faced scrutiny in the past for his treatment of animals, including legal action resulting in the closure of a storefront operation where abuse of sloths was documented.
Attracting about 200,000 annual visitors, the Holtsville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve for decades has served as a community hub for environmental education and recreation, offering a petting zoo, animal exhibits, walking trails and educational programs.
Top photos: Provided by Humane Long Island
