BENTONVILLE — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has filed a complaint against Wild Wilderness Inc., the company that operates the Wild Wilderness Drive Through Safari in Gentry.
The Animal Welfare Institute stated Tuesday in a news release that the complaint was filed in January.
The complaint accuses the exhibitor of almost a dozen violations of the Animal Welfare Act between March 7, 2013, and October 12, 2016. The complaint accuses the exhibitor of not providing adequate veterinary care and failing to establish programs to prevent, control, diagnose and treat diseases and injuries or the daily observation of animals.
The USDA’s complaint accuses Wild Wilderness of willfully violating regulations on at least five occasions by failing to have sufficient distance and/or barriers between animals and the public.
Wild Wilderness is accused of violating regulations in several instances by failing to have a responsible, knowledgeable and readily identifiable employee or attendant present at all times during public contact.
The company also is accused of failing to take appropriate measures to alleviate the impact of climate conditions that would be detrimental to the animals’ health.