Animal Planet: Drop "Yankee Jungle" - Don't Promote a Breeding Backyard Zoo!

D.E.W Haven in Maine is a backyard zoo that breeds exotics for profit.

This zoo claims to be a sanctuary, but their animals live in cramped enclosures with few opportunities for stimulation or enrichment. Worst of all, this place breeds for profit under the guise of conservation, which a true sanctuary would NEVER do as it perpetuates the cycle of wild animal abuse and neglect. 

One of DEW's female tigers named Makeena gave birth to a litter of three cubs last summer, two of which were white tiger cubs. All of the cubs were taken from her the day they were born, handled by people, and used for profit.  The actual cub in the picture for this petition was killed because of a "congenital neurological condition" due to white tigers being notoriously inbred in captivity.  Neither of the other two cubs born remained at DEW Haven, and they never disclose the exact locations of where their animals go.  That is typical of the exotic trade, sell, donate business of backyard zoos. 

How do I know this? I was there. Through my own eyes I saw animals kept in unacceptable conditions, and numerous baby exotic animals, the outcome of their active breeding program.; I was informed of the cubs and their status directly from a family member at the entrance booth.  Plus the outcome of the cub that was killed was noted in the finding of a  USDA complaint which I filed.  DEW Haven did not disclose this information to the public.  The cub was used for media coverage but its death was kept secret.

Now they have hired actors and are going into their second season of a television show called "Yankee Jungle". The show includes interactions with baby animals, which a true sanctuary would never do. This will just perpetuate the exotic pet problem which is rampant in the United States and leave actual, accredited sanctuaries inundated with older, unwanted exotics.

Animal Planet has agreed to air all episodes of this misguided show and the second season starts soon! Tell Animal Planet to cancel “Yankee Jungle” a reality show set at DEW Haven - this type of facility should not be promoted!

Please sign my petition and let Animal Planet know that backyard zoos breeding exotic animals in minimally sized, barren enclosures should not be promoted!