Bill Description:
This bill would alter the Large Carnivore Act, which was passed in 2000. That Act prohibits possessing, breeding, and transferring animals such as lions, tigers, and bears, and includes an exemption for reputable zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). S.B. 658 strikes any reference to AZA accredited zoos in favor of broad and generic requirements, thereby expanding who can possess, transfer, and breed large carnivores.[teaserbreak]
Background:
This broad exemption would allow many unqualified facilities, commonly called roadside zoos, to keep, breed, and acquire these dangerous species. It is important to maintain a strong registration requirement for the ownership of “dangerous wild animals” by disreputable facilities.
Roadside zoos, which are often accredited by the so-called Zoological Association of America (ZAA), do not conform to the higher standards that AZA requires. ZAA sees animals as commodities rather than sentient beings, and exists to further their own profit-making rather than to ensure animal welfare. Roadside zoos are exploitative wildlife attractions — ranging from backyard menageries to pseudo-sanctuaries to drive-through parks — most of which display various species of captive wildlife for a fee. Disguised as conservation, educational, or rescue facilities, roadside zoos and menageries are among the worst abusers of captive wildlife. Among the more benign discoveries, inspectors frequently documented animals being kept in cramped, dirty cages, often surrounded by trash. Read more about these horrific facilities here.
Read the full text and follow its progress here.