Supporters and opponents of the closing of the zoo at the Holtsville Wildlife & Ecology Center raised their concerns to Brookhaven town officials during an Oct. 9 meeting.
Employees of the town’s highway department, along with some residents, spoke out against the closure of what they said was “a community institution,” and felt betrayed by the town’s decision.
Meanwhile, animal rights activists, including members of Humane Long Island, which helped to bring the allegations of misconduct and animal abuse at the Holtsville Ecology Center last year, thanked the town for closing the site to the groans of some highway department supporters in the back of the room.
“In your attempt to avoid controversy, you sacrifice the very people who have served this town with loyalty, passion and pride. We have become your collateral damage,” Holtsville zookeeper Kristin Layer told the town board.
Layer said that Brookhaven officials, including town supervisor Dan Panico, had sat down with her and other employees of the Holtsville Ecology Center to discuss the allegations in “respectful and realistic discussions.”
Layer also said the discussions included expanding the center’s staff, renovating the center and improving services.
“You all complimented us and praised us for our professionalism and dedication, and even suggested regular meetings moving forward, but most importantly, you ensured us this very scenario we are here for tonight would not happen now,” Layer said. “Barely any time later, we’re blindsided.”
“The animals were never the ones suffering, but your employees are, and now you have actively contributed to that,” Layer said.
Brookhaven Town recently announced plans to close the Holtsville Ecology Center’s zoo by the end of March 2026, with animals being transferred to wildlife centers across the island.
The decision, according to Panico, will save Brookhaven taxpayers $2 million annually.
According to members of the highway department, the town did not warn them about the site closure, and they learned about the impending closure when the town publicly announced it on Sept. 29.
Another speaker said that with the zoo’s closure, families from Brookhaven would have fewer places to see and learn from animals, as places like the Long Island Game Farm and Bronx Zoo are too far for some residents to travel to.
Panico disputed the claims Layer and other speakers made about the decision to close the site being a “political decision” that caved into “radical” animal rights groups.
“I do not submit a budget simply for one year; I budget for four years,” Panico said. “I budget not to pierce the tax cut, because the No. 1 issue in Brookhaven and across Long Island, and what’s going to continue to recur, not in this town, if this budget is passed, is the continual piercing of the tax cap.”
“It is by no means a political decision,” Panico said.
Panico informed the members and supporters of the highway department that the town could not continue operating an animal sanctuary, commonly referred to as a zoo, due to “extremely steep rising costs” that would force the town to cut from other core departments.
While town employees and supporters disagreed about the site’s closure, supporters of Humane Long Island praised the town for the decision, even if it was primarily financial.
“On behalf of all our members and supporters, I would like to thank supervisor Panico and everyone on the town board… recognizing that towns have no business running a zoo,” said John Di Leonardo, president of Humane Long Island.
Di Leonardo then offered his services in transporting animals to sanctuaries free of charge, but he said the town has not taken him up on his offer.
After allegations of animal abuse and mistreatment came to light when 13 whistleblower employees shared their experiences with the press at the start of this year, Panico called on the Suffolk County district attorney Ray Tierney to launch a probe into the allegations. As of Oct. 14, the D.A.’s office’s findings, if they investigated, have not been made public.
Supporters of the Holtsville Ecology Center left the meeting disappointed, with some members saying their fight to keep the site open wasn’t over.
Panico finished his response by saying he doesn’t employ positions like a chief of staff or deputy chief of staff to save money, and that his personal approach to office budgeting extends to his approach to town budgets.
“I think I have shown that I lead this town in a manner that puts the public first and not politics,” Panico said.
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