The infamous unlicensed owner of a traveling animal show was busted in a bizarre roadside encounter on Long Island last week — toting two sloths and a kangaroo in his car.
Larry Wallach, 67, whose exotic-animal-exhibition business is called Sloth Encounters, was issued a summons for violating Oyster Bay’s dangerous animals ordinance after federal, state and local authorities discovered the illicit animals in his black Honda Odyssey outside a coffee shop Wednesday, according to officials from the animal-rights group Human Long Island.
The strange scene unfolded as town code-enforcement officers were joined by state and federal agencies responding to a tip that Wallach — a repeat violator with a long trail of animal welfare citations who fled Long Island to Florida — was back in the area and once again moving exotic animals through Nassau County despite being barred from doing so.
It is illegal to transport such exotic animals over state lines into New York, where it also is illegal to own them in most parts, including Long Island’s Suffolk County and most of Nassau County such as Oyster Bay.
“Wallach’s USDA license was canceled, yet he continues to unlawfully exhibit wild animals in violation of local and federal laws,” said John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, to The Post.
Although Di Leonardo said he is happy that Wallach was cited, he believes more needs to be done by authorities in order to fully shut down the business of horrors.
“Federal authorities must act now — cite him, confiscate the animals and place them in reputable sanctuaries,” the activist said.
Wallach’s long record of animal abuse and misconduct includes roughly 60 animal-welfare violations, a guilty plea for trafficking dangerous animals, lying to federal inspectors, being held in contempt of court and having his Long Island operation shut down by a state judge, according to enforcement records and court filings.
His federal license to exhibit animals was officially voided by the US Department of Agriculture in June 2024, making his owning of exotic animals and any public displays of them after that date unlawful, records show.
Despite the revocation, Wallach allegedly continued illegally hauling animals to private parties and pop-up events across state lines, including in Florida, where animal welfare advocates said he resurfaced after fleeing Long Island following legal action against his business.
Humane Long Island has documented multiple instances in which Wallach was accused of hiding animals from inspectors, misleading federal authorities about their whereabouts and continuing exhibitions after being ordered to stop, Di Leonardo said.
Sloths and kangaroos are considered especially vulnerable in cold climates, such as Long Island in January.
As of Thursday, Wallach had not been arrested or criminally charged in connection with the Oyster Bay incident, and despite the evidence, Di Leonardo said, authorities let Wallach drive away still in possession of the animals.
It isn’t clear why. Sources close to the investigation only said a federal investigation into Wallach is under way.
“Welcome to my life of advocating for animals,” Di Leonardo said.