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Deadly exotic animals now barred from B.C.
Topic Started: Apr 9 2009, 05:15 PM (70 Views)
bavariantiger
Deadly exotic animals now barred from B.C.

Siberian tigers are among the exotic animal species now prohibited by B.C. except by permit.
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Text By Jeff Nagel - BC Local News


Published: March 17, 2009 4:00 PM
Updated: March 17, 2009 4:55 PM

3 Comments Anyone who's always wanted a gorilla, jackal or lion for a backyard pet is now out of luck.

The province moved this week to outlaw the importation of a long list of dangerous exotic wildlife, from crocodiles to big cats.

Officials hope the new rules will end incidents of snakes, lizards and other potentially lethal critters escaping from private property and posing a risk to the public.

The drive for regulation gained steam two years ago after Tania Dumstrey-Soos was killed by a tiger her boyfriend Kim Carlton kept as a tourist attraction near Bridge Lake.

“British Columbians shouldn’t have to worry about being harmed in their community by dangerous foreign animals like tigers, pythons or alligators,” environment minister Barry Penner said.

People are prohibited from owning species listed under the new Controlled Alien Species Regulation unless the animal was in B.C. before March 16.

Existing owners will have a year to seek and get a permit from the environment ministry and won't be allowed to breed or release the animal.

A separate permitting system will apply to accredited zoos, research and educational institutions, as well as temporary permits for the film industry.

Violators face fines of up to $250,000 and/or two years in prison as well as seizure of prohibited animals.

The change is being applauded by the BC SPCA, which has sometimes wanted to seize dangerous animals but had difficulty finding facilities to house them.

"It's going to make a huge difference over time in terms of how many animals are kept and bred and imported," spokesperson Lorie Chortyk said.

Up to eight per cent of SPCA cruelty investigations involve exotic animals.

Officers have had to chase down escaped wallabies and zebras roaming the streets, and they've faced the risk of contracting dangerous diseases when dealing with primates.

"We had people who were keeping Siberian tigers in the Lower Mainland and were taking them to malls on leashes where kids would get their pictures taken with them," she said. "There are huge public safety issues around this."

Chortyk said crocodile-like caimans have been a particular problem as well as large snakes like pythons.

"These are very powerful snakes that kill their prey by crushing and they're in homes with small children," she said. "There's just no reason anyone would have these animals as pets."
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