- Joined
- Aug 13, 2011
- Messages
- 51
I was recently reading a NYT piece about possible legislation pending to further regulate the keepeing of exotic wildlife. In the wake of the recent tragedy in Zanesville, Ohio there seems to be a renewed interest in tightening the rules regarding what we can keep/breed.
In these sorts of articles/discussions, there's a lot of talk about preventing people from keeping big cats, bears and other more traditional zoo animals as well as reptiles like monitors, large constrictors and crocodilians. Fair enough. What disturbed me the most was a recent interview I read with Jack Hanna, the famous director of the Columbus Zoo. He basically said that private keepers have no right to keep any exotic animal in their home. I couldn't help but wonder how far a blanket statement like that could be taken.
What are other tortoise keepers' opinions on this subject? I only keep one tortoise, a yearling leopard. I suppose most would consider it to be exotic considering it's potential to attain a large size and being a reptile. I can't see most tortoises being injurious or dangerous, but it sounds like the language is going to be pretty broad and absurd if major change comes.
In these sorts of articles/discussions, there's a lot of talk about preventing people from keeping big cats, bears and other more traditional zoo animals as well as reptiles like monitors, large constrictors and crocodilians. Fair enough. What disturbed me the most was a recent interview I read with Jack Hanna, the famous director of the Columbus Zoo. He basically said that private keepers have no right to keep any exotic animal in their home. I couldn't help but wonder how far a blanket statement like that could be taken.
What are other tortoise keepers' opinions on this subject? I only keep one tortoise, a yearling leopard. I suppose most would consider it to be exotic considering it's potential to attain a large size and being a reptile. I can't see most tortoises being injurious or dangerous, but it sounds like the language is going to be pretty broad and absurd if major change comes.