Thousands Petition for Exotics Ban in Ohio
Following the shooting of 49 exotic animals in Ohio last week after their release from a private zoo, nearly 100,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Governor and other Ohio officials to ban the sale, ownership and harbouring of wild and exotic animals in the US state.
Currently, hundreds of exotic animals are kept as pets in Ohio, which is one of 10 states that does not regulate exotic animal ownership.
The situation reached a head last week when authorities killed 49 animals in the interest of public safety, following their release from Muskingham County Animal Farm, a privately-owned zoo.
Over fifty exotic animals escaped, including eighteen rare Bengal tigers, three mountain lions, six black bears, two grizzly bears and a wolf - of which only one grizzly bear was rescued. A futher three leopards and two monkeys were captured and transported to a zoo.
Their owner, Terry Thompson, is reported to have opened cages and damaged fences before committing suicide. Local police have confirmed that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
In the wake of the incident, Ohio resident Liz Dumler launched an online campaign at Change.org to urge the Ohio governor John kasich to reconsider regulations on keeping exotic animals.
In less than 24 hours, the campaign had attracted thousands of supporters, leading Stephanie Feldstein, director of organising Change.org to call the support "incredible."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
