Long Island's Holtsville Wildlife Center Closing 2026 Over Budget Deficit, Abuse Allegations

Brookhaven Town officials have announced the closure of Long Island's Holtsville Wildlife and Ecology Center, the largest zoo on the island, citing a $2 million budget deficit and shifting priorities away from running a zoo. The center, which has operated for over 40 years, faced longstanding allegations of animal neglect and mistreatment, including reports of a mountain lion drowning, untreated infections, and inadequate veterinary care. Animal rights advocates have praised the decision as necessary for animal welfare, with Humane Long Island's director calling it the right choice for the animals and noting expected taxpayer savings of over a million dollars annually. Despite some local sadness over losing a free family attraction, the closure reflects a broader societal shift toward more ethical treatment of animals. The zoo's head caretaker criticized the closure as politically motivated and accused town officials of corruption, but the town denied these claims, emphasizing budgetary constraints as the sole reason. Plans are in place to transfer the roughly 100 remaining animals to accredited rescue facilities by early 2026.