MONROE COUNTY (WWJ) - A Downriver exotic animal dealer has agreed to surrender roughly 150 animals after authorities accused him of violating welfare and endangered species acts this month.
The Department of Justice stated on Monday, Aug. 29, that Zachery Keeler, who conducted business under Even Keel Exotics LLC in Temperance, entered an agreement with authorities to hand over dozens of animals at his exotic farm, including ring-tailed lemurs, kinkajous, wallabies, porcupines, foxes, prairie dogs and ground squirrels.
According to the DOJ, Keeler violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by "unlawfully and prematurely separating a baby ring-tailed lemur, an endangered species, from its mother to interact with the public, then tried to sell the baby lemur for $3500."
Ring-tailed lemurs are a medium to large-sized wet nosed primate that are endemic to the island of Madagascar, the Detroit Zoo stated. They are internationally recognized due to its long, black-and-white, ringed tail.
Authorities say the animal is critically endangered, with an estimated 2,000 and 2,500 ring-tailed lemurs left in the wild.
Keeler is also accused of violating the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) by not providing proper food and water and failed to keep facilities clean for the animals in his care, the DOJ said.
Federal officials claim Keeler then threatened U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service inspectors who came to his property to check on the animals with trespassing claims.
“The Animal Welfare Act and the Endangered Species Act are important tools in protecting our most vulnerable species,” Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division said in a prepared statement. “Even Keel Exotics violated requirements for minimum care of the animals in its possession, failed to provide required access to inspectors and illegally harmed a baby lemur, a protected endangered species.”
As part of the agreement, Keeler can never buy, sell or engage in commerce related to animals regulated under the AWA.
He also cannot apply for AWA licensing or registration.
Deputy Administrator Dr. Roxanne Mullaney for APHIS’ Animal Care Program stated her department is committed to ensuring the best possible outcomes of the surrendered animals.
“This includes undertaking aggressive enforcement action against repeat, egregious violators of the law and working closely with APHIS partners to ensure AWA compliance," Mullaney said.