Washington May Ban Dangerous Wild Animals
Water monitors and other reptiles commonly kept as pets would
be banned in Washington state under a measure to prohibit
“potentially dangerous wild animals,” according
to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Washington).
House Bill 1151 and its companion, Senate Bill 5377, would
create a “dirty” list encompassing the entire
order of primates, wild cats, wolves, bears, rhinos, the order
Proboscidae and an extended list of reptiles.
The measures also would allow cities and counties to adopt
ordinances that are even more restrictive, which could include
a much broader list of potentially dangerous wild animals,
said PIJAC.
The bills would prohibit the import, ownership, possession,
keeping or harboring of any listed species. Certain entities,
such as zoos, would be exempt from the ban. Travelers in possession
of the animals also would be exempt, as long as the transported
animals are in the state no longer than 21 days.
Persons who already own an animal covered by the act would
be allowed to keep it until July 1, 2010, but must prove it
was in their possession prior to the law’s adoption.
PIJAC opposes the bills on several grounds:
- Not all species of animals listed in the bill qualify as
dangerous wild animals.
- Not only zoos, circuses or humane societies possess adequate
facilities for these animals.
- The permit process should not be limited to grandfathering
in existing owners.
- Anyone demonstrating qualifications for care of covered
animals should be granted a permit.
At press time, the bills were scheduled for committee hearings.
[March 2005 PET AGE]
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’DANGEROUS’ REPTILES
Several reptiles would be classified as “dangerous
wild animals” in the state of Washington if House Bill
1151 and its companion, Senate Bill 5377, are enacted:
Order Squamata:
- Family Atractaspidae, such as mole “vipers.”
- Family Colubridae, only boiga irregularis (brown tree snake),
Boiruna species, Clelia species, Dispholidus typus (boomslang),
Elapomorphus species (Argentine blackheaded snake), Hydrodynastes
gigas (South American false water cobra), Malpolon species
(Montpelier snake), Philodryas species, Psammophis species
(African grass and sand snakes), Rhabdophisspecies (yamakagashi
or keelback snakes), Tachymenis species (“Culebra listrada”),
Telescopus species (African tiger snakes), Thelotornis species
(twig snakes).
- Family Elapidae, such as cobras, mambas, kraits, coral snakes,
Australian tiger snakes.
- Family Helodermatidae, such as beaded lizards, including
gila monsters.
- Family Hydrophiidae, such as sea snakes.
- Family Varanidae, only water monitors and crocodile monitors.
- Family Viperidae, such as rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, bushmasters,
puff adders and gaboon vipers.
Order Crocodilia:
- The entire order, such as crocodiles, alligators, caimans
and gavials.
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