WASHINGTON – The HSUS is urging the U.S. House of
Representatives to pass the “Captive Wildlife Safety Act,”
introduced late yesterday by Rep. George Miller (D-CA-7th), the
senior Democrat on the House Resources Committee. The
legislation, H.R. 5226, is backed by The HSUS, the American Zoo
and Aquarium Association, and the International Fund for Animal
Welfare. It would ban interstate shipments of lions, tigers,
and bears for the pet trade.
“There is no justifiable reason for a person to have a tiger
or a lion as a pet," said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS senior vice
president. “These are powerful and potentially dangerous
animals, and they belong in the wild, not languishing in a
dirty cage in someone's backyard in Arkansas or New Jersey or
Ohio.”
The legislation seeks to amend the Lacey Act, which
addresses shipments of fish and wildlife, by barring the
interstate movement of dangerous exotics for use as pets.
Facilities that operate under a U.S. Department of Agriculture
permit, such as zoos and circuses, are exempt.
An estimated 5,000 tigers are in private hands in the United
States – a population that likely surpasses the world’s wild
tiger population. Ownership of wild, exotic animals seems to be
on the rise, often with disastrous results:
• Lexington, Texas – A three-year-old boy is killed by his
step-father’s “pet” tiger in October 2001.
• Channelview, Texas – A three-year-old boy made national
headlines in March 2000 when his uncle’s pet Bengal tiger tore
off part of the boy’s arm.
• Loxahatchee, Florida – A 58-year-old woman was critically
injured after being bitten on the head by a 750-pound “pet”
Siberian-Bengal tiger mix in February 2002.
• Animal control officers have been called in by police who
find dangerous exotic animals guarding illegal drugs.
• The Houston SPCA has had to expand their facility to meet
the unique needs of the large exotic animals they routinely
receive as victims of cruelty and neglect. They’ve handled over
40 large cats in the last few years and just last week took in
an African lion.
Houston SPCA executive director Patricia Mercer thinks that
federal legislation to ban interstate shipments would help to
address the problem since she believes many of the animals the
shelter cares for come from out of state.
Exotic animal dealers traffic in these animals, who are
relatively easy and inexpensive to procure. Tiger cubs cost
approximately $350 to purchase, yet as full grown animals they
can cost thousands of dollars to feed every month. Dealers of
such animals feed the demand for exotic pets from people who
seek the attention and notoriety that comes with owning a lion,
tiger, or other dangerous exotic animal.
Once someone grows tired of the novelty or realizes that
they can’t properly care for the animal, they have few options
for placing a full-grown exotic animal. The animals have no
value to the conservation of wild species since they are often
inbred and genetically inappropriate for breeding programs
designed to restore wild populations. Zoos usually can’t
accommodate the animals. Often, the animals are neglected or
are simply let loose.
“These animals cannot be humanely maintained by individuals
without the resources or knowledge to care for these
creatures,” said Rep. Miller. “They have very specific
physical, behavioral and nutritional needs that can only be met
by professional curators at zoos that have the resources to
meet the animals’ needs while providing safe and secure
housing.”
"Wild animals, even if they are raised by hand from infancy,
grow up to be unpredictable and dangerous," said Richard
Farinato, director of captive wildlife protection for The HSUS.
"No matter how well you think you might know an animal, there's
always the potential of serious injury to yourself or someone
else."
Twelve states currently ban private possession of large
exotic animals and 7 states have partial bans. However, no
federal law restricts sale or ownership of these animals.
A number of organizations oppose the ownership of dangerous
exotic animals, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
the American Veterinary Medical Association, and animal
shelters across the country.
