After a year-long campaign led by Humane Long Island, the Brookhaven Town Board has voted unanimously — 7–0 — to shut down the Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve, a roadside zoo operated by the Town Highway Department atop an uncapped landfill. This long-overdue decision offers a lifeline to more than 100 animals who have spent years in substandard conditions, finally giving them the chance to receive the compassionate, species-appropriate care they deserve at reputable sanctuaries.
Humane Long Island extends our deepest gratitude to the brave whistleblowers, dedicated wildlife rehabilitators, concerned citizens, and all who stood with us — those who attended town meetings and protests, shared our coverage in Newsday, the New York Post, and other media, our friends at PETA for sponsoring a mobile billboard showing Honey the bear’s final days, and the more than a dozen former employees who brought these animals’ suffering to light. This victory belongs to you.
The Town has also announced that the zoo area will be repurposed for new community amenities, while the trails, pool, greenhouse, park, and all non-animal portions of the site will remain open for residents to enjoy — ensuring the community continues to enjoy local wildlife in their natural environment and benefit from the space without animals being kept in captivity.
Our campaign now enters a crucial new phase: ensuring that every single animal is placed with reputable, accredited sanctuaries equipped to provide lifelong, specialized care. Humane Long Island has offered to assist with placement immediately and at no cost to the Town — and we are ready to begin today. Handled responsibly, this moment can serve as a model of compassion and meaningful progress for communities across Long Island.
Please take a moment to thank Supervisor Dan Panico at supervisorpanico@brookhavenny.gov and politely urge him to work with Humane Long Island to ensure happy, safe futures for each and every animal.
To see behind the scenes at Holtsville Ecology Site and learn why the site is closing, please visit HoltsvilleEcologySite.com or watch the video below.