The Real Tarzann’s zoo near Temecula targeted by PETA, code enforcement

A Temecula-area facility linked to an exotic animal handler and social media celebrity known as “The Real Tarzann” has run afoul of Riverside County code enforcement, which cited the property and accused him of running an illegal petting zoo and hosting events without a permit.

The county will pursue a cease-and-desist order against The Wyld Jungle, also known as Black Site Ranch and Sweet Oaks Ranch, if it doesn’t voluntarily comply with the law, code enforcement spokesperson Felisa Cardona said via email.

While the county isn’t alleging animal abuse at the property, The Wyld Jungle has drawn the ire of People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which wants authorities to “throw the book” at the facility.

According to The Wyld Jungle’s account on X, formerly known as Twitter, the 26-acre facility outside Temecula is managed by Michael Holston, who goes by The Real Tarzann on social media and has at least 9.3 million Instagram followers and more than 1 million subscribers to his YouTube channel.

“Michael Holston is a ‘Tiger King’ wannabe who recklessly taunts and harasses animals like they are ‘props’ for social media fame,” PETA spokesperson Moira Colley said via email. “He is nothing more than a social media influencer masquerading as a self-titled animal expert.”

Holston did not respond to emails and social media messages seeking comment. Someone who answered the intercom Monday, March 25, outside the gate at the address listed for The Wyld Jungle said Holston wasn’t available and declined to make anyone else available for comment.

The ranch just east of the Temecula city limits is bordered by hills and next to large horse ranches. Animals, including a zebra, could be seen and heard. People could be seen working on the property.

A “Sweet Oaks Ranch” sign hung above the gate’s two electronically controlled doors and no-trespassing signs along the perimeter fencing described the property as an “animal sanctuary” that’s not open to the public.

Holston’s social media accounts show him interacting with exotic animals such as snakes, lizards, camels, zebras and big cats.

Some videos “depict chimps riding Holston’s back, using an electric razor on Holston’s face, and even skateboarding with him while dressed like a little human,” The Miami Herald reported in 2019.

An October 2023 video — “Wyld Jungle Tour!” — posted to The Real Tarzann YouTube channel shows Holston feeding and handling exotic birds, ostriches, zebras, camels, water buffalo, lizards and snakes, among other animals.

Code enforcement first received a complaint about illegal grading on the property in October 2022 with a complaint about the petting zoo lodged that November, Cardona said.

Code enforcement officials issued notices of violations in April 2023 after inspecting the property that month, Cardona said. The grading issue is now resolved, but the other violations remain, she said.

A Wednesday, March 20, follow-up inspection “found a sign on the premises indicating that the property was a habitat refuge and not open to the public,” Cardona said, adding that code enforcement couldn’t enter the property “and … is continuing to work on next steps … ”

State wildlife inspectors found no violations during a visit to The Wyld Jungle, California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Tim Daly said via email. He added his department is not investigating the facility, which does not need a state permit because it doesn’t house restricted species such as apes, elephants or leopards.

The Wyld Jungle’s website invites people to “get up close and personal with a diverse array of fascinating creatures at our animal sanctuary and Zoo.” Below that text is a “Coming soon” button.

Private events are offered for $4,998 while tours cost $499. T-shirts, hats and other apparel are for sale on the website.

The Wyld Jungle is mentioned on the website for Black Site Ranch, which bills itself as “a luxury adventure resort and playground located on the fringes of Southern California’s scenic wine country.”

With “40 acres of beautifully manicured outdoor lawn, a charming tiny home community, horse stables fit for a king, and an enchanting animal sanctuary and zoo,” the ranch can host weddings, “safari glamping” and survival training with “a former Green Beret, Navy SEAL, UFC fighter and survival experts,” among other activities, according to the ranch’s website.

The Wyld Jungle, Black Site Ranch and Sweet Oaks Ranch “are all names for the same location,” Cardona said.

Holston’s internet fame and history with wild animals goes back to Florida, where he worked informally with a private zoo in Miami-Dade County around 2015, the Herald reported.

After Holston said he had rescued 250 freezing iguanas, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission accused him of selling the reptiles without a license, the Herald reported. Holston only charged for shipping fees and wasn’t selling iguanas for a profit, his lawyer told the newspaper.

Holston was arrested in Florida in August 2019 after authorities said he punched Jason Leon, a big cat and python handler. In the Herald, Holston’s lawyer described the dispute between Holston and Leon as a “macho thing.”

Court records show that Holston, whose charges included assault and battery, successfully completed a pre-trial diversion program.

In the Temecula-area case, PETA wants the U.S. Department of Agriculture to take action against The Wyld Jungle.

Colley, the PETA spokesperson, said Holston “prioritizes views on Instagram over animal welfare, harassing animals to generate viral content.”

“He’s chased distressed ostriches around an enclosure and wrestled with camels,” Colley said. “This egregious harassment teaches animals to respond aggressively towards humans, which is not only cruel to the animals involved but also dangerous because The Wyld Jungle offers public encounters with these same animals.”

Michelle Sinnott, the PETA Foundation’s director of captive animal law enforcement, said in an emailed statement that PETA “is urging authorities to throw the book at this reckless and illegal outfit and get these animals to reputable facilities where they would get the care they need and be treated with respect.”

Source: Orange County Register