Llamas on the Loose Again at Cedar Point as PETA Demands Federal Probe
- Cleveland13 Staff
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
SANDUSKY, OH — Llamas on the loose at Cedar Point have triggered fresh scrutiny of the park’s petting zoo operations after three of the animals escaped their enclosure on May 9, 2025. This latest incident marks the third time in under a year that animals have broken free from the same area of the Sandusky amusement park. The animals were spotted near the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad tracks and were quickly recaptured without injury, according to park officials.
Cedar Point spokesperson Tony Clark confirmed the pen at The Barnyard petting zoo was unintentionally left unlocked during routine cleaning by a third-party operator, Honey Hill Farm. “As anyone who has ever had a pet knows, animals just get loose sometimes,” said Megan Powell-Larkin, Honey Hill Farm’s director of operations. “Our pet llamas — Skye, Gandalf and Dante — took advantage of a rare set of circumstances to explore the grassy area behind their enclosure before being safely returned a few minutes later.”
This recurring issue has prompted renewed calls for action by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. In a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture dated May 12, PETA demanded an immediate investigation into potential violations of the Animal Welfare Act by Honey Hill Farm. PETA Foundation Senior Director of Captive Wildlife Debbie Metzler stated, “As if it weren’t already obvious that animals shouldn’t be confined next to roaring rollercoasters, the pattern of incompetence on display at Cedar Point makes it clear this ramshackle ‘petting zoo’ needs to go.”
PETA's concerns are not new. Last summer, two camels escaped on June 11, followed by more than a dozen goats just days later. Those incidents led to citations from the USDA, which found deficiencies in staff supervision and enclosure security. In a June 2024 statement, Clark said the park was working with Honey Hill Farm to install 24-hour surveillance and enhance animal containment.
Adding to the complexity, FOX 8 News reported that unknown individuals may have been responsible for some of last year’s escapes. Despite increased camera monitoring and reinforced fencing, this May’s escape has reignited fears about both animal and public safety in the park’s high-traffic environment.
PETA has called for the llamas to be thoroughly examined for any injuries and demanded accountability for what they describe as ongoing, uncorrected violations. The organization stresses that the noise and activity of a theme park can provoke extreme stress in confined animals, potentially leading to dangerous situations.
While the animals’ brief adventure appeared harmless to onlookers, the underlying concerns raised by repeated breaches have not gone unnoticed. As of now, the USDA has not commented on whether it will open a new investigation into the matter.
Cleveland 13 News is actively investigating these claims and will report more as additional details emerge.
Additional news coverage on this, from other local networks, can be found at the following sources:
News 5 Cleveland, "3 Cedar Point alpacas go frolicking after pen unlocked," published on May 9, 2025. Available online.
(614) Now, "After camels, goats escape at Cedar Point, PETA sends complaint to USDA, urges shutdown of 'wretched' petting zoo," published on June 18, 2024. Available online.
Yahoo News/FOX 8, "PETA calls for change after animals escape at Cedar Point again," published on May 12, 2025. Available online.
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