Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks wants to outlaw all exotic pets by 2010 -
and intends to start working on legislature for that now. Kansas is a very
permissive state, so this is troubling. Unless you are AZA accredited, it
would be illegal to own anything. We really need to watch this one, too.
Gabrielle
Posted on Sun, Jul. 03, 2005
Department wants tougher rules on exotic animals
JASON PROBST
Associated Press
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Officials with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and
Parks
say abandoned and neglected exotic animals - like a mountain lion taken from
a rural Reno County home last week - highlight the need for tightened
regulation.
But small, private animal shelters, zoos and rehabilitation operators say
the
agency is trying to ban the possession of some exotic wildlife, making it
impossible for them to stay in business.
"We're not opposed to regulation," said Tom Harvey, who with his wife,
Allie,
operates the Safari Zoological Park in the southeast Kansas town of Caney.
Wildlife officials and the Reno County Sheriff's Office joined forces
recently to remove a malnourished and underweight mountain lion from a
residence on
Palomino Trail.
The female cougar, known as Wilma, is about 12 to 14 years old, Sheriff's
Detective Wayne Baughman said.
After several warnings from KDWP to transfer the animal to a different
location, sheriff's officers were able to take possession of the animal
under the
state's animal cruelty statute.
Baughman said the animal had escaped several times in the past, and when
officers arrived to remove Wilma, she was caged with no food, had stagnant
water
and weighed less than 60 pounds - about 70 pounds lighter than a healthy
weight.
Under current regulations, Kansans who want to possess a mountain lion or
other big cat, bear or wolf must fill out an application with KDWP and
submit to
a one-time inspection.
Once the application is approved, the owner isn't subject to another
inspection unless the department receives complaints, and the permit is good
for the
life of the animal. Statewide, there are 44 permit holders.
Val Jansen, law enforcement supervisor for the Wichita region of KDWP, said
the initial inspection includes ensuring cages are secure and that the
animal
has appropriate habitat, food and water.
But game breeders, such as pheasant and quail breeders who sell the birds
commercially, are subject to yearly inspections, Jansen notes.
Recent passage of the federal Captive Wildlife Safety Act restricts the
interstate transportation of some exotic animals, including mountain lions,
and the
law prompted KDWP to re-evaluate the state's laws.
"We started out with the idea that maybe we should ban possession of these
(big cats) in Kansas," Jansen said. "But that was met by cat lovers with a
great
deal of anguish. We had a lot of strong comment from the public."
That prompted the seven-member KDWP commission to instruct staff to collect
more information and public comment on the issue, which has now been on the
table for more than a year.
"Typically, the people who come before any group are most adversely affected
by the law," said Kevin Jones, director of law enforcement for KDWP. "You
don't see a lot of participation by those who may be agreeing with the
proposed
law."
The original draft resolution, presented to the commission in October 2004,
called for permitting cougars, bears and wolves currently in the state but
denying future permits unless exempted for educational or scientific
purposes.
Furthermore, the resolution called for an entire ban by 2010, prohibiting
private ownership of the animals altogether, except for accredited zoos,
schools
and universities.
Harvey said obtaining accreditation from the American Zoological and
Aquarium
Association is a daunting task. The organization's Web site contains a
25-page application and an 81-page list of requirements to meet
accreditation.
Harvey, who said his zoo is subject to inspections from the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, contends the expense of meeting AZA requirements is too much
for many smaller operators.
Safari Zoological Park is privately owned and would likely fall under the
proposed KDWP regulations.
"It would virtually put me out of business," said Harvey, who has 27
different big cats, including two white tiger cubs born earlier this month.
Jones thinks regulations should be tightened for owners of exotic cats but
says the answer likely lies somewhere between a full ban and the current
regulations.
"I do think Kansas is very lax in its regulation of wildlife species," Jones
said. "These are very large and very powerful animals, and they're not truly
domesticated like a house cat or a dog in your yard. They still have very
strong wild tendencies."
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/12048473.htm
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