On April 23rd the US Congress will hear HR 669 proposed by Rep. Madeline Bordallo of Guam. This bill will essentially ban trade and interstate commerce in all non-native wildlife. This includes all tropical fish and saltwater fish (you can still keep goldfish), birds other than ducks and chickens, all reptiles as well as small animals such as hamsters and guinea pigs. No cats though, although they are immensely damaging to native wildlife when the become feral. Don't want to anger millions of voting cat owners, right?
Anyhow, as a fish/reptile keeper I have issues with this bill. I think species should be regulated as well as importation, but this kind of broad, sweeping legislation is the wrong way. Animals that do damage in places like Florida and Hawaii wouldn't last past October in the North and Midwest, even in most parts of the South.
My question to people here is: What does this mean to the future of US zoos? Zoo animals are non-native. That's why we go to zoos. To see animals we can't see in the wild. Also, all breeding of non-native species will be banned with this legislation, so forget about establishing or maintaining captive popualtions. If this passes as is, zoos will be done in a couple of decades in the US. No imports plus no captive breeding equals no animals.
Also, many advances in husbandry have come from private owners. Just look at places like White Oak. There are also many reptile breeders (Frank Retes with varanids) and fish keepers that have made breakthroughs in husbandry through private keeping. Forget about that, too. If Zoos go down, then you know the private owners don't stand a chance. The impact of this is staggering. It effects not only zoos, but researchers, the hunting/fishing industry, the pet industry (which will be devastated), restaurants and raw materials (glass).
Anyhow, as a fish/reptile keeper I have issues with this bill. I think species should be regulated as well as importation, but this kind of broad, sweeping legislation is the wrong way. Animals that do damage in places like Florida and Hawaii wouldn't last past October in the North and Midwest, even in most parts of the South.
My question to people here is: What does this mean to the future of US zoos? Zoo animals are non-native. That's why we go to zoos. To see animals we can't see in the wild. Also, all breeding of non-native species will be banned with this legislation, so forget about establishing or maintaining captive popualtions. If this passes as is, zoos will be done in a couple of decades in the US. No imports plus no captive breeding equals no animals.
Also, many advances in husbandry have come from private owners. Just look at places like White Oak. There are also many reptile breeders (Frank Retes with varanids) and fish keepers that have made breakthroughs in husbandry through private keeping. Forget about that, too. If Zoos go down, then you know the private owners don't stand a chance. The impact of this is staggering. It effects not only zoos, but researchers, the hunting/fishing industry, the pet industry (which will be devastated), restaurants and raw materials (glass).
, play on their emotions or ignorances, and before you know it the only wild (and dare I say domestic)animals we'll get see will be on TV or the internet.