logo
PETA asks McMaster to ban ‘direct contact' with exotic animals in wake of Horry County man's death in farm's kangaroo enclosure

PETA asks McMaster to ban ‘direct contact' with exotic animals in wake of Horry County man's death in farm's kangaroo enclosure

Yahoo13-05-2025

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — The animal-rights group PETA has asked Gov. Henry McMaster to ban 'direct contact with wild and exotic animals in South Carolina' after a man was found dead this weekend in a kangaroo and wallaby enclosure in Horry County.
Eric Slate, 52, was found dead late Friday night inside the enclosure at the family-owned and operated 5 Star Farm on Highway 746 near Loris. The Horry County Coroner's Office said he died from 'blunt force injuries' but said the investigation is ongoing and that an autopsy would be conducted.
Robert Slate, Eric Slate's brother, told News13 in an exclusive interview on Sunday that his brother's body had several abrasions and other marks, but nothing that would indicate the brutality of a kangaroo attack. He said Eric had been complaining of chest pains in the days before his death.
An incident report provided by Horry County police said Eric Slate had 'clear signs of injury' but did not specify the extent of them.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said Tuesday in a news release that it's not unusual for people to be injured when 'captive animals are exploited for entertainment.' The group cited two incidents that have happened in recent years, one in which a monkey escaped from Doc Antle's Myrtle Beach Safari and attacked a woman, and another in which a child was bitten by a prairie dog at Ballyhoo Petting Zoo in Anderson.
PETA also said E. coli, Salmonella and other pathogens that can spread through direct or indirect animal contact are often found at petting zoos.
'Denying animals everything natural and important to them and subjecting them to a barrage of grabbing hands is a recipe for disaster,' said Jonathan Morris, an associate director of legal advocacy for PETA. 'PETA is urging Governor McMaster to ban these dangerous and exploitative hands-on encounters for the safety of all South Carolinians, humans and other animals alike.'
Robert Slate responded Tuesday afternoon to PETA's concerns, telling News13 that any governing body or expert is welcome to visit his family's farm to view the enclosures and learn more about how the animals are treated.
Below is the letter to McMaster, signed by Morris, in its entirety:
'I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to kindly request that you initiate a ban on public contact with wild and exotic animals in South Carolina. According to recent reports on May 10, a man was found dead with 'multiple blunt force injuries' while inside an enclosure with kangaroos and wallabies at a roadside zoo called 5 Star Farm in Loris, SC. This recent incident epitomizes the public safety hazards and animal welfare concerns associated with direct contact between wild and exotic animals and humans.
Public contact with wild animals is inherently dangerous. Human handling is a significant stressor for wild animals, and public contact is particularly stressful because it forces these animals into interactions with unfamiliar individuals causing them to feel unsafe. In addition to the risk of physical injury, contact with wild animals risks transmission of numerous zoonotic diseases, including rabies, smallpox, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, and E. coli.
Captivity and training do not take away a wild animal's potential to inflict harm, and it doesn't take much for humans to trigger those instincts, potentially resulting in injury or worse—like the recent incident at 5 Star Farms shows—if the animal claws, bites, kicks, or flees. Such risks are amplified at unaccredited, for-profit facilities like 5 Star Farm where staff often have minimal experience or training, and there are limited if any safety polices in place.
Animal welfare is inextricably linked to the increased risks posed by direct contact encounters at roadside zoos because failing to meet a wild animal's needs in a captive setting can cause psychological distress. Wild and exotic animals at unaccredited facilities typically live in a state of chronic stress due to poor welfare, which can result in injurious or aggressive behavior.
Public interactions with wild and exotic animals have resulted in countless incidents of animals biting, scratching, or otherwise injuring unsuspecting customers. For example, in 2023, a teenager was bitten by a sloth during a public encounter at a roadside zoo in Michigan, and had to undergo post- exposure rabies treatment. In 2022, a 17-month old child was attacked by a lemur at a petting zoo in Georgia, which left the child with 'blood gushing out' of his head. In 2022, a three-year old was rushed to the hospital for a gaping wound that needed stitches after an iguana at a Forth Worth facility attacked him. In Anderson, South Carolina, in 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture cited Ballyhoo Petting Zoo after a prairie dog bit and injured a child. In Horry County, in 2021, a monkey escaped from Myrtle Beach Safari and attacked a woman at her home, biting her on the arm.
The deadly incident at 5 Star Farm highlights the grave dangers direct contact with wild animals presents to both members of the public and captive wild and exotic animals. Accordingly, PETA respectfully urges you to initiate a ban on public contact with wild and exotic animals.'
* * *
Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Four common text scams and how to spot them
Four common text scams and how to spot them

Axios

timean hour ago

  • Axios

Four common text scams and how to spot them

Text scams have grown exponentially over the past few years. Why it matters: These scams have gotten harder to identify, and more costly — last year, consumers reported losing $470 million to scams that began with text messages, per the Federal Trade Commission — five times the amount in 2020. Here are some to watch out for: 1. Unpaid tolls and traffic tickets The big picture: State governments across the U.S. have reported a rise in scam texts about unpaid tolls or traffic violations. States that have issued alerts include New York, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, Colorado, Vermont, Texas, and North Carolina. The exact nature of these scams varies state-by-state, but they typically threaten the suspension of vehicle registration and driving privileges and include links to submit a payment. Those scams extend to claims about specific toll collection systems as well. 17 states use E-Z Pass, for example, and some of them, including New York, New Hampshire and Virginia, have warned residents about phishing attempts. What they're saying: Steve Grobman, the Chief Technology Officer for McAfee, told a local North Carolina ABC affiliate that people should avoid clicking on any links in these texts. "It's either your personal information that can then be sold on the dark web, or in some cases it's more direct where they're trying to get your credit card or debit card," he said. "They can try to use that to make a purchase and ultimately you're then stuck fighting that with your credit card or debit card company on the other side." 2. Package deliveries State of play: The most commonly reported type of text scam was mail carrier impersonations, the FTC said in its April report. Scammers send alerts about supposed issues with impending deliveries, the agency said. FedEx, UPS, and the USPS have all put out warnings against impersonation scams. FedEx said"unexpected requests for money in return for delivery of a package," "requests for personal and/or financial information," and "links to misspelled or slightly altered website addresses" were all red flags to watch out for. The USPS said"common lures include 'your account has been suspended', 'there is suspicious activity on your account', 'there is a problem with your shipping address' and 'there is a package waiting for you at the Post Office.'" 3. Phone providers Some people have reported text scams in which people impersonate phone service providers. AT&T, for instance, put out a notice in April warning customers about "AT&T Rewards scams," in which scammers infiltrate AT&T accounts "so they can make changes, order equipment, or steal personal information. The company gave this example of a scam message: " - Simply sign in to your account to redeem your $620. At AT&T we care about you. Thank you and have a nice day." Across the internet, people have also reported text scams from people impersonating Verizon representatives. Flashback: This type of phone provider scam has existed for the last few years. The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell in 2023 put out a notice warning residents about scammers "impersonating Verizon Wireless technical support and fraud agents using spoofed Verizon Wireless phone numbers and SMS text messages." 4. Job offers The FTC also said that phony job opportunities are common. How it works:"Task scams" involve promises of online work "requiring people to complete a series of online tasks and end up with requests for people to invest their own money," the agency says on its website. In a note to consumers, the New York Department of State warned that people should be wary of potential employers who request personal information prior to an interview, offer to hire you without an interview or meeting, or ask you to download any applications. "Don't trust anyone who says they'll pay you to rate or like things online. That's illegal and no honest company will do it," the FTC said in December. What to do about text scams The FTC advises people to report suspicious messages. Forwarding messages to 7726 (SPAM) helps wireless providers spot and block similar messages. You can report messages as spam on either the Apple iMessages app or Google Messages app for Android users. You can also report directly to the FTC at The FTC also has advice on how to avoid accidentally giving a scammer your information.

Country Star Conner Smith Kills Elderly Woman in Car Accident: Police
Country Star Conner Smith Kills Elderly Woman in Car Accident: Police

Yahoo

time11 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Country Star Conner Smith Kills Elderly Woman in Car Accident: Police

Originally appeared on E! Online Conner Smith is at the center of an ongoing investigation. The country artist was behind the wheel of a pickup truck that struck a pedestrian June 8 in Nashville, according to a press release from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. The 77-year-old victim, identified as Dorothy Dobbins, appeared to be walking inside a marked crosswalk when the incident occurred, according to authorities. She was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she died shortly thereafter. Authorities listed the preliminary contributing factor for the fatal accident as Smith's failure to yield the right of way to Dobbins, noting in the release that the 24-year-old showed 'no signs of impairment.' No charges have been filed in the case. One day after the tragedy, Smith's attorney addressed the matter on behalf of the musician. 'On June 8th, Mr. Smith was involved in a car accident that tragically claimed a life,' Worrick G. Robinson said in a statement to E! News. 'His heart goes out to Ms. Dobbins' family during this incredibly difficult time.' More from E! Online Justin Bieber Slams "Transactional Relationships' After Hailey Bieber Split Rumors Blake Lively Breaks Silence on Legal Victory Against Justin Baldoni Farrah Abraham's Daughter Sophia Shares Rare Glimpse at Family Vacation Robinson added, 'Mr. Smith continues to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.' Smith first rose to prominence in 2021 with his viral single 'I Hate Alabama' and released his debut album Smoky Mountains in 2024. Earlier in the weekend, he performed at the 2025 CMA Fest in Nashville, describing the event as a career highlight. 'I just remember coming down here and watching people on that stage and dreaming about it, and looking up to the guys on that stage,' he said in an interview with American Songwriter posted on their TikTok page June 9. 'And then when you get to be up there and see people come in and pack out that lawn for you, it feels really cool.' Smith, who wed surfer Leah Thompson in April 2024, added that having his loved ones present made the performance all the more memorable. 'We always have family and friends out here as well,' he continued, calling the gig 'a really special moment.' For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App

Missing Bride Arrested After Allegedly Murdering Husband on Honeymoon
Missing Bride Arrested After Allegedly Murdering Husband on Honeymoon

Yahoo

time14 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Missing Bride Arrested After Allegedly Murdering Husband on Honeymoon

Originally appeared on E! Online An Indian bride who went missing on her honeymoon has been arrested on suspicion of plotting to murder the groom. Newlywed Sonam Raghuvanshi was taken into custody by police after surrendering herself June 8, six days after the body of her new husband Raja Raghuvanshi, with whom she disappeared during their honeymoon in northeastern India, was discovered in a gorge with his throat slit. Authorities allege that the 25-year-old and her boyfriend Raj hired a group of men to kill Raja while the newly-married couple was vacationing, prompting the arrest of Sonam and four other individuals. 'The plan was to kill Raja in a distant place,' Indore deputy police commissioner Rajesh Dandotiya told reporters, per Hindustan Times, 'dump his body somewhere where it would not be found and then live happily.' However, Sonam's dad Devi Singh adamantly denies the allegations against his daughter and has accused the local government of 'lying from the beginning' of their investigation. More from E! Online Blake Lively Breaks Silence on Legal Victory Against Justin Baldoni Julie Chrisley Debuts New Blonde Hair After Prison Release Addison Rae Changes Her Name "My daughter is innocent,' he told reporters June 9, per the Indian news outlet The Tribune. 'I have trust in my daughter. She cannot do this. They got married with the consent of both families.' E! News has reached out to a lawyer for Sonam for comment and has not heard back. Sonam and Raja, 30, tied the knot in the Indian city of Indore on May 11, which Raja's brother Vipin Raghuvanshi said was a reflection of their positive arranged marriage. "Their marriage was arranged four months back and they were both happy,' he told reporters, per the BBC June 9. 'There had been no fights between the couple before or after marriage." Four days after the couple embarked on their honeymoon May 20, they went missing, prompting a search effort from police, disaster relief teams and local citizens. Following the discovery of Raja's body June 2 and no sign of Sonam, the pair's families criticized the authorities and petitioned the Prime Minister of India for help. After Sonam's arrest, Raja's brother Vipin initially said he would "not accept' his sister-in-law's 'involvement in the murder until she confessed." However, once he learned that one of the alleged accomplices was known to Sonam, he expressed his faith in authorities' investigation. "I now believe that Meghalaya government was not lying,' he said, per the BBC. 'They were telling the truth." For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store