‘Neuty’ the pet nutria taken from New Orleans home, headed to Baton Rouge Zoo

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — A pet nutria named “Neuty” will be removed from a New Orleans couple’s home by state wildlife agents and find a new home at the Baton Rouge Zoo.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said on Thursday the nutria, which is illegal to own, will be a part of the zoo’s educational exhibit. Neuty will be a part of the zoo’s “Ambassador Animal Program,” officials said.

“The Zoo’s professional staff will care for the nutria as they would all other animals within their skilled care and looks forward to bringing a new member into the zoo animal family,” Baton Rouge Zoo said in a statement.

Agents learned about the pet nutria after New Orleans-area media reported about the animal and worked with BREC officials to find a way to save the animal, according to LDWF. Arrangements for the nutria were official on Thursday and agents notified the animal’s owners.

Normally, these types of animals would go back into the wild, LDWF said, however, officials said since the nutria had gotten used to humans, then it would not survive on its own.

The state wildlife agency said it is against Louisiana law to keep an injured or orphaned wild animal without a permit and it is illegal to keep wildlife as a pet.

As of Friday morning, over 5,000 people have signed a petition to get Neuty back to his family in New Orleans.

Part of the petition’s description reads: “Hell, if some Louisiana politicians and authorities can get away with corruption and major infractions all the damn time since forever, what harm is it to let Neuty and the Lacostes live in peace as they have for many years?”