Multiple Endangered Species Rescued From Makeshift Zoo in Residential Home

Declan Gallagher
·2 min read
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More than 100 animals, including a variety of endangered species, have been rescued from a residential home in Long Island. According to local outlet NBC 4, 32-year-old Matthew Spohrer was placed under arrest on Tuesday night after the FBI and several other law enforcement agencies came to his home.

Authorities were first alerted to Spohrer’s alleged makeshift zoo last October, when he was reportedly showing off his animals in an unlicensed tent. Several people forwarded tips to Humane Long Island, who took control of the investigation.

Per Humane Long Island, Spohrer was housing more than 100 animals in contemptible conditions within his modest, two-story home. All of them, including an ostrich which can grow up to three feet, were allegedly crammed into cages scattered about Spohrer’s backyard and basement.

All were exotic pets, and many of them are considered endangered species. Those included two varieties of both South African ostriches and peacocks, as well as a tiger salamander. They also recovered an Asian water monitor, which is a large lizard; two prairie dogs; a Sulcata tortoise; an opossum; a large African snail; as well as a number of chickens, ducks, quails, geese, and “multiple degus,” which is a type of rodent. There was also a Savannah monitor on the property, a lizard about half the size of a water monitor.

"He actually said that he ordered the [ostrich] on Ebay as an egg when he was drunk. This was a stupid mistake," John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, told NBC. "[Spohrer's allegedly] been seen and photographed numerous times with this [ostrich] in public, taking it to the fair, train stations, pet stores."

According to Di Leonardo, there was no consideration given to where a given species would be housed. "Baby quails certainly don’t belong housed right next to lizards and snakes causing them extreme stress," he lamented.

"Hoarding giant birds, prairie dogs, and endangered species in a cramped basement or backyard shed is cruel, and keeping them in cages next to their natural predators can cause them extreme stress,” Di Leonardo elaborated. “Simply speaking, wild animals are not pets."

Spohrer was slammed with 30 violations and fined thousands of dollars by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). All of the animals recovered from his home will be sent to live the rest of their lives in sanctuaries.