Animal activists at the Margate City Commission meeting. {David Volz}
John Di Leonardo is committed to stopping Larry Wallach from opening Wildlife Adventures in Margate, which would include at least one sloth and a kangaroo.
As executive director of Humane Long Island, he traveled from New York to lead a group of demonstrators outside Margate City Hall on the evening of June 3, before the commission meeting. They carried signs showing their opposition to the sloth displays. The demonstration was peaceful, but there was a strong Margate police presence.
“It is important to stop sloth encounters in Florida. Sloths belong in a rainforest environment and should not be put on display,” said Di Leonardo.
Wallach did not attend the meeting, but Commissioner Tommy Ruzzano spoke in favor of his plans. He brought a stuffed sloth to the commissioner chambers and placed it in front of the dais during the meeting. He challenged the demonstrators and said that a sloth display would not be a bad idea.
“How many animals have you saved? Why don’t you go to the horse tracks and demonstrate there? I love animals, and I love sloths,” said Ruzzano.
Commissioner Tommy Ruzzano with a stuffed sloth talking to protesters.
The demonstrators attended the commission meeting and, during public comments, spoke out against Wallach’s plans to open a wildlife display business in Margate. Di Leonardo said that Wallach does not have a necessary federal license to display wild animals.
Ana Campos, who works with Di Leonardo, said the city should not allow an animal display business and that the sloths on display would be harmed.
Michele Lazarow, president of the Alliance for Animal Welfare, said, “I don’t believe sloths should be in cities; they should be in rainforests.”
Commissioner Joanne Simone spoke out strongly against Wallach and his goal to open an animal business in Margate. She described the many allegations against him and showed two videos of Wallach treating animals harshly.
Wallach does not have an official business location in Margate, but De Leonardo said he is working to establish a wildlife-encounter business there. Recently, Wallach brought a sloth to a commission meeting. He also brought a sloth, a kangaroo, and a Cockatoo to the Margate Elementary School fifth-grade graduation at the city’s Sports Complex.
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