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Wildlife Commission Meeting - July 2-3, 2007
ISSUES – JANUARY 11, 2007 – WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING-PDF file
Chapter 11 – Wildlife Parks
Should the Wildlife Commission require wildlife sanctuaries to develop a
closure plan and/or post a closure bond, and possibly impose a moratorium on
importation of animals from the families Felidae, Ursidae and Canidae until
such requirements are met?
ISSUES SUBMITTAL FORM
Date: 12/14/2006
ISSUE:
Should the Wildlife Commission require wildlife sanctuaries to develop a
closure plan and/or post a closure bond, and possibly impose a moratorium on
importation of animals from the families Felidae, Ursidae and Canidae until such
requirements are met?
DISCUSSION (FACTS AND FIGURES, EXPLANATION OF ISSUE):
In the past 2 years, approximately 100 big cats have been brought into
Colorado wildlife sanctuary facilities. Recently, some facility owners have made
statements to the media suggesting the possibility of closing their facilities
due to financial issues. The question has been asked as to what the DOW’s
response would be to either a closing of a facility or if animals were to
escape.
This moratorium would keep new animals from coming into the state while
facilities work with the Division and other interested organizations and
agencies to develop a plan that addresses how the facility would handle closing
down. The moratorium would remain in affect until the Division had received and
approved both a closure plan and a closure bond.
The proposed changes to Chapter 11 will better ensure the safety of animals and
the public alike. These recommendations are the synthesis of a stakeholders’
meeting sponsored by the Division on October 11, 2006 in Denver. The
stakeholders’ meeting did not include sanctuary owners.
WHO ARE THE INTERNAL/EXTERNAL PUBLICS IN THIS ISSUE? WHAT INPUT PROCESS HAS OCCURRED?
DOW staff, county sheriffs, USDA, animal welfare organizations, licensed
wildlife sanctuary owners/operators.
On October 11, 2006 the DOW hosted a meeting to discuss a contingency plan for
big cat sanctuaries. Representatives from various public and private groups and
agencies were involved in the meeting.
ALTERNATIVES: (POSSIBLE OUTCOMES or POSSIBLE REGULATIONS):
1. Status quo
2. Preferred alternative:
a. Require all current and future wildlife sanctuaries to develop a closure plan
and/or obtain a closure bond.
b. A moratorium on the importation of all species in the families Felidae,
Ursidae, and Canidae into wildlife sanctuaries (3-step process) until the
Division receives and approves a closure plan and a closure bond for existing
wildlife sanctuaries;
3. Like #2 except the moratorium would be immediate (1-step) while the
Commission addresses the closure plan and closure bond issues (3-step).
Issue Raised by: Hoover, Prenzlow, Masden
Author of the issue paper (if different than person raising the issue): Gurzick
and Masden; modified 12/19 (Ackerman/Hoover)
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