Is TLC's "Our Wild Life" Pushing Things Too Far?

Amanda Garrity
Updated
Photo credit: TLC
Photo credit: TLC

From Good Housekeeping

What happens when a sloth, lemur, and miniature pig walk into a room? Insanity.

That's exactly what happened on this week's premiere episode of Our Wild Life on TLC. The show documents Bobbi Jo and Jerry Abrams as they care for their three children - Kasi, Hali, and Jackson - and 80 "fur babies" on their 16-acre farm in Pinetops, North Carolina. Yep, "fur babies" is actually code for exotic animals. Think: kangaroos, cockatoos, zebras, camels, to name a few.


Their unique family started after Bobbi Jo rescued one animal ... and then another ... and then another ... and well, you get the picture. "We take in a lot of animals, lot of rescues, and of course we purchase some as well, but we got more rescues than the purchases," Jerry, manager of Abrams Catering and Amusements, told WITN.

Bobbi Jo treats the animals as if they're her own children. On the show, she even admits that for the first eight months of Skipper the Kangaroo's life (casual), she fed her with a bottle every four hours and carried her in "her pouch."

Some animals even vacation with the family. Boomer the Wallaby recently joined the family for a beach vacation in Oak Island, North Carolina. Plus, all animals start off living in the house until they're old enough to survive the elements outside - except for the Belt the Sloth who prefers living indoors with the family.

Some animal lovers were loving the show:

A lot of people were inspired by Bobbi Jo's selflessness:

But there were also viewers who are concerned for the wellbeing of the animals:

How many animals is too many? Per state law, North Carolina is fairly lenient on exotic animals. Most smaller animals, including skunks, lemurs, and raccoons, simply require a state permit. In most cases, however, if the animals are born in the state, there's no need for a permit. Larger animals, including camels and cows, must be signed off on by a veterinarian.

But still, that doesn't answer the question regarding if it's a good idea to have camels and zebras roaming around rural North Carolina. PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet exclusively told GoodHousekeeping.com:

A human household is no place for dozens of animals who all have unique needs and temperaments and require expert care. In the first episode alone, the family members allow a variety of species to roam loose around the home - where they could easily injure themselves or others - and even take a baby kangaroo into town for a trip to the grocery store.

Let's be clear: The Abrams family's backyard is actually a zoo - for real. Bobbi Jo is the owner and operator of It's a Zoo Life, where she organizes parties, seasonal events, and a zoo camp for children right in her own backyard. The website claims it's not just any old zoo either: "The most noteworthy difference between our zoo and others is it's our own backyard and these are truly our pets. We interact with them daily and know their personalities in depth."

GoodHousekeeping.com has reached out to TLC for comment, we will update this post if we receive one.

Watch the Abrams family in action - all 86 of them - on Our Wild Life next Tuesday at 10 p.m. on TLC.

You Might Also Like