Police seize exotic animals from garage in U.S. after 1 wanders neighbourhood

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Detroit Zoo said Thursday that it was caring for 30 animals, including lemurs and other exotic species, which were rescued from “deplorable” conditions inside the garage of a suburban home.

Police seized the animals Wednesday after one of the rare mammals was spotted roaming in a neighbourhood.

The animals include two ring-tailed lemurs, two white-nosed coatis and three fennec foxes, all considered exotic, the zoo said in a statement.

According to the zoo, an animal control officer captured a coati roaming on Wednesday, leading to the discovery of the other animals.

“The conditions these animals were being kept in were deplorable,” said Elizabeth Arbaugh, the zoo’s mammal curator. She said the animals seemed to be in relatively good health, considering the conditions of their confinement

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The conditions these animals were being kept in were deplorable," said Elizabeth Arbaugh, the zoo's mammal curator. She said the animals seemed to be in relatively good health, considering the conditions of their confinement

Some of the confiscated animals were being kept in quarantine at the zoo’s health centre, while others were transferred to the Michigan Humane Society, the zoo said.

The situation is a common one at the zoo, officials said.

“Privately owned exotic animals kept as pets often end up in compromised conditions and in need of rescue,” said director Ron Kagan.