Holtsville Wildlife Center zoo closes after 46 years amid controversy

Brookhaven’s Holtsville Wildlife & Ecology Center zoo has closed after 46 years, ending a familiar stop for South Shore families while the town begins moving animals and leaves the property’s long-term future unresolved.

The shutdown came out of Brookhaven’s 2026 budget process, which included a gradual closure of the Holtsville Ecology Site and was approved in a unanimous 7-0 vote. Town officials said the decision was driven by finances as much as by controversy, with the preserve costing about $2 million a year to operate and the budget expected to save taxpayers roughly $2 million. Brookhaven said rescued birds and mammals would be transferred to an approved and accredited sanctuary.

The closure also follows months of scrutiny over animal care. News reports last year tied the dispute to allegations of mistreatment, including the 2024 death of Honey the bear, and said Brookhaven officials had already asked the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office to investigate the abuse claims months earlier. NBC New York reported that more than 100 animals were slated for relocation, with the process potentially continuing into early 2026. Other local reporting put the number of animals moving at more than 130.

Supporters of closing the zoo said the decision was about public money and the limits of running a municipal animal facility. Critics saw the end of a free, longtime educational resource that generations of families had used for school visits, weekend outings and summer trips. Humane Long Island, which campaigned for the closure, said the Holtsville site was founded in 1979 on an uncapped landfill and operated as an unaccredited roadside zoo, with whistleblowers describing poor conditions and animals that suffered from untreated illnesses.

The Holtsville site itself has deep local roots. Brookhaven materials identify Harold H. Malkmes as the founder of the attraction, which began at the town’s compost facility and later grew into an ecology center with animals, trails, playgrounds, pools and pavilions. Brookhaven has said the rest of the ecology site, including some recreational amenities, will remain open, but officials also say there is no current development plan for the property. For now, the practical answer for residents is clear: the zoo is permanently closed, the animals are being transferred, and the future of the Holtsville grounds is still being decided.