ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Strange warning signs on the gates of this jail.

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Richard brings in the ponies that are kept all day long in the enclosure next to the jail. He's still three and a half months in prison. He's been convicted of possession of majijuana. "I love animal, so I asked to go down to the zoo. I prefers to be with the animals than with the other inmates. Time flies faster outside."

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Jeanne Selander has been running the zoo for about ten years. This marine biology graduate is an animal lover. We call it the "Animal Woman". She's opening the gate for Richard so he can bring in the ponies inside the jail for the night.

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Richard and David are waiting for Jeanne to open the secure gate for them to bring the ponies home for the night.

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

The Sheriff's Office Animal Farm features all sorts of animals, both the traditional farm animals like miniature horses, Angus the steer, chickens, pigs, goats and rabbits as well as exotic animals like Mo the Sloth, one Kinkajou, Kelsey the Lemur, and for sure alpacas

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Three inmates, including Richard, and David, await the tasks for the day in the early morning. Their days are spent feeding the animals, cleaning their cages, taking care of them.

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Shane feeds Coco the Skunk

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

The jail has an artificial pond in which geese, ducks, pigs and sows come to snort and cool down.

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Shane feeds geese and pigs near the pond

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Richard and David bring the little horses into their enclosure for the night

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

David has been here for 2 1/2 months. He has to stay another two months. He is charged with dangerous driving while drunk. In life he is a computer engineer, but he really likes taking care of animals because as a child he lived on a farm.

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Shane has been here for nine months. He still has three months in jail. He was charged with drug possession. He had no difficulty convincing management to take care of the animals because he himself has many animals at home. He likes to take care of it and here he gives the impression of being free.

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Shane and David preparing meals for all the animals.

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Shane feeds Julien the Lemur

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Richard, Shane and david during a break.

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

among the many tasks that inmates must perform during the day, cleaning animal pens is an important one

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Twice a month, the farm invites the public in to fawn over the animals.

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Jeanne welcomes visitors to the zoo twice a month. Some families are regular visitors. Children and their parents will be in contact during their visit with the inmates.This has never been a problem.

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Shane feeds Mo the sloth,the zoo mascot, in the birdhouse.Just behind him is Misty a Moluccan cockatoo repeatedly says “I love you” to visitors during an open house day.

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

a little girl playing with a ferret.

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Richard still three and a half months in jail. He's been convicted of possession of majijuana. "I love animal, so I asked to go down to the zoo. I prefers to be with the animals than with the other inmates. Time flies faster outside."

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

The inmates with the children look at the enclosure where the alligator is located

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Visitors are greeted by Mo the sloth, who is regularly an ornament cradled in Selander’s arms as guests arrive. "Everyone thinks he is hugging me, but really he just thinks I’m a tree," Selander said.

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

parents with Shane show a ferret to the children

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

every evening after their day in the zoo, the prisoners return to their cells with the other prisoners

ORANGE IS THE NEW ZOO CYRIL ABAD

Orange is the New Zoo

Key West, Florida

In the most unique detention centre in the United States, at the end of Key West, strange abandoned prisoners named alpacas, ostriches, ponies, lemurs are cared for and guarded by... inmates. The story begins in 1994.On the busy road along the prison, a merry band of ducks lived dangerously. The sheriff of the time, who became fond of the palmipeds, decided to relocate them in the parking lot under the prison. When the case came to light, more and more people started putting animals in it."We called it the coconut telegraph," says Jeanne Selander, the new Sheriff of Monroe County, a graduate in marine biology and with extensive animal experience.She confesses that she had never worked in a jail before this new kind of experience. Jeanne had a vision to make this place something special. And ten years ago the sheriff gave her the management when the zoo was about to close.

Today the zoo has 150 animals, including a lazy man, a lemur, exotic snakes and lizards, kinkajous, rabbits, ducks, geese, pigs, miniature horses, birds, etc..,And above all, behind all this, a dynamic programme of reintegration through work aimed at empowering prisoners by caring for animals.The zoo therefore works daily with a staff of four or five inmates under Jeanne's supervision.

Violent offenders, or offenders who have abused children or animals, are not eligible for this job," says Jeanne. The zoo operates mainly thanks to donations from visitors and patrons who support this program.One weekend a month the prison opens its doors. Visitors are then in contact with the detainees.Some Sundays up to 300 people can hurry into the alleys of the small zoo to see the animals.

The attendance rate has increased by a factor of 30 over the past 10 years. When Jeanne is asked about the program she has put in place, she confides:

"Working with animals clearly has a positive effect on prisoners.

It's very good for them. Instead of staying in their cells, they are actually doing something that gives meaning and purpose. And I guarantee you, when they get out, they will bring their families back to show them what they have done here.”