PRESS ROOM

ROYAL OAK, Mich., 

The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) is urging Michigan residents to join the organization in opposition of Senate Bill 658, rushed through Committee and the Senate Thursday, to significantly expand Michigan’s Large Carnivore Act. The bill was narrowly passed by the Senate 22-14 and is currently before the House of Representatives.

The Large Carnivore Act (Act 274 of 2000) is intended to allow the Detroit Zoo and the four other Michigan zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to possess, transfer and breed large carnivores such as tigers, lions and bears, and it prohibits these activities by private citizens and unregulated roadside zoos or pseudo-sanctuaries. However, a drafting error in the existing Act – exemptions from prohibitions were mis-numbered – actually forbids the state’s AZA-accredited zoos from doing what they are meant to do: conserve endangered species. The legislature has refused to correct the law despite years of efforts by AZA zoos.

Rather than correct the typo, legislators proposed a re-draft of Act 274 via Senate Bill 658 that removes any reference to AZA-accredited zoos in favor of generic requirements, thereby expanding who can possess, transfer and breed large carnivores. Further, the bill does not include the infrastructure for state resources to enforce the Act.

“As an accredited zoo and conservators of wildlife, we have an important obligation and a profound responsibility to ensure both public safety and exotic animal welfare through strong and effective state policy,” said DZS Executive Director and CEO Ron Kagan. “We don’t believe the proposed bill does either of those things. We are risking the safety of people and animals in what is an infamous tactic of rushed legislative attempts during a lame-duck session.”

At least 70 people have been killed, and thousands more injured, in the U.S. in the last 25 years by captive large carnivores.

Among the major concerns with the bill is who will enforce the Large Carnivore Act if AZA accreditation is not a part of the law. In order for a zoo to be AZA-accredited, all the criteria in the proposed bill – and more – must be met. Therefore, AZA-accredited zoos will be in compliance with the Act, requiring nothing from the state to monitor and enforce the law. However, the proposed bill lacks the regulatory structure – inspections, permits, fees, staff, budget/appropriations – that would ensure non-AZA accredited zoos are in compliance and are maintaining the public safety and animal welfare requirements of the law.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture – the division charged with regulatory oversight of the Large Carnivore Act – was not consulted on the changes and has raised concerns about the resources that would be required to enforce the law.

Concerned citizens who are against unregulated venues possessing, transferring and breeding dangerous exotic animals can find contact information for their state representatives at http://www.house.mi.gov/mhrpublic/ to encourage them to vote “no” on Senate Bill 658.