TikTok star shuts down controversial makeshift 'zoo' after animals poisoned
TikTok star Kyle Thomas has shut down his makeshift 'zoo' in Northern Ireland, which housed a variety of exotic pets and attracted criticism from animal welfare groups.
The teenage social media star has now reportedly sold the land in Co Antrim once used to house exotic animals for a six-figure sum, with his mother confirming her son's zoo venture is now over. Kyle had sparked fury several times since opening the 'zoo' thanks to several animals dying while under his care.
The TikTok creator house animals considered 'dangerous' in Northern Ireland. Belfast Live visited the area outside Lisburn after hearing reports that the teenager had listed it for sale and spoke with Kyle's mother Zena Foord, who confirmed that the land, which was up for sale on Facebook Marketplace for £150,000, has now been sold.
When we asked to confirm the sale near the site, Ms Foord told Belfast Live: "He has done absolutely nothing wrong. I've had to move every single f****** animal from here because people were killing them and poisoning them." Kyles' mother added that she has reported the alleged poisoning to the police.
Local residents had questioned why Kyle had brought so many exotic animals to the 'sanctuary'. They also expressed concerns about the impact on local wildlife due to the sheds and fences he was installing. On Christmas Eve, Thomas shared a video on TikTok showing a farm shed filled with wallabies, goats and foxes in pens side by side. Ducks and chickens were reportedly kept in a separate stable, laying eggs for the foxes to eat.
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A capybara, considered a dangerous animal in Northern Ireland, and several geese have died under the care of this establishment. Two albino wallabies had to be separated, with one replaced by a dark-coated wallaby, according to one of Kyle's videos. In October, Belfast Live reported that the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs was investigating what Kyle described as a zoo, animal sanctuary and farm on his TikTok account.
Kyle with his capybara before the animals deathLast year, the teenager confirmed that one of his meerkats was expecting. He also shared videos of himself with another meerkat, driving with it unsecured in a car and feeding it what looked like KFC chicken. In another post, a meerkat bites Kyle on the lip as he tries to feed it from his mouth.
Kyle, who boasts over 35 million followers on TikTok, has faced criticism from animal rights activists for his plans to operate what he describes as a zoo, an animal sanctuary and a farm. He has posted numerous videos of wooden sheds and fenced enclosures being built, and of the animals he keeps there, from wallabies and exotic foxes to meerkats, cockerels and geese.
The Irish teenager, who lives with his mum, also kept monkeys and became a TikTok sensation for his videos featuring a giant South American rodent. This capybara, named Queen Elizabeth and famously adorned with jewellery, tiaras, and dresses Kyle, suddenly passed away after being brought into their Lisburn home. Its cause of death is unknown.
The land the 'zoo' was on has now been sold (Photo By Justin Kernoghan)A spokesperson from DAERA announced: "DAERA has no remit or responsibility for a post mortem examination for the capybara queried. It is not a requirement for NI licensed keepers of Dangerous Wild Animals to carry out Post Mortems."
Another spokesperson from the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council said: "Queries regarding the licensing and importation of exotic animals and any ongoing monitoring activity should be directed to DAERA. As of 27 September, 2023, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council is making ongoing enquiries in relation to animal welfare."
Kyle, the UK's top TikToker with a whopping 1.6 billion likes, faced tough questions in the Channel 4 documentary 'UNTOLD: Exotic Pet Trade - Exposed' aired in November 2023. Reporter Nadeem Perera, who went undercover to dig into the exotic pet craze, asked Thomas at London Zoo, "are social media influencers to blame?" for the growing love of exotic pets and wondered "is it time to ban exotic pets in Britain?"
Kyle told them: "I don't like to call myself an influencer because I don't influence anything - I'm like a video sharer. The journey that I'm going on right now and showing people that follow me is, 'OK, I was very young and I had these pets, you know, I had exotic pets. Then I realised the challenges that actually came with that. Number one the money, the vets bills, the environment that they needed. If I could do it all over again I would like to say to people 'hey, this is what you've gotta do and please don't seek out to get these animals'."
He admitted he's stopped sharing clips of his monkeys on TikTok, but the show revealed a recent post of him with a marmoset dancing on his shoulder.
Nora Smith from USPCA said, "Wild and exotic animals have complex needs and the USPCA's position is that keeping them as pets is fundamentally unethical. The 'sanctuary' Kyle Thomas claims to be building implies rescuing and rehabilitating animals. The images we have seen on social media including the latest footage of some of these animals having now been moved to a shed is, in our opinion, not acceptable. They belong in their native environment, rather than being used to win likes, shares and followers on social media."
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"Unfortunately, it is technically legal to own primates and exotic animals, though some require a licence. We would like to see an outright ban, to ensure these beautiful creatures belong in their natural environment, to be admired from afar. Not in a soggy field, or shed or residential home."
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