Zoo works to comply with new regulations
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

Picture courtesy of marcoangeletti@hotmail.com Red-Eared Slider turtles, which were a popular gift in 2004 and 2005 and were readily available to consumers, are now listed as conditional species by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The state agency adopted new regulations for the animal. For details, see "New turtle requirements" on page 2A.

The new year brought a new set of state requirements for The Zoo-Northwest Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the state agency that protects and manages 572 species of animals, issued new rules for those who possess or exhibit potentially dangerous wildlife. The zoo's newly appointed Executive Director, Danyelle Lantz, said park staff is working to gain compliance to the new rules. The state is requiring facilities, like the zoo in Gulf Breeze, gain additional insurance for potentially dangerous animals and comply with tougher regulations for venomous reptiles.

Effective Feb. 1, people or businesses exhibiting Class I captive wildlife, such as lions, bears, crocodiles, chimpanzees and rhinos, will be required to provide a surety bond or a financial responsibility guarantee of $10,000 or maintain $2 million in general comprehensive liability insurance, with $2 million required per occurrence.

"I spoke to our insurance company yesterday," Lantz said last Thursday. "We have to send them the requirements to have the bond in place." Lantz said the zoo's primary insurance company is Fisher-Brown Insurance and that park officials are shopping around to get the best price for the required bond. "Right now, we are quoting it out and wrapping things up to gain compliance," Lantz said.

In 2007, the bond for exhibiting venomous reptiles increased from $1,000 to $10,000. State officials are also requiring exhibitors mark venomous reptile displays with warnings and maintain a bite protocol emergency contact list. Lantz said the zoo does have venomous snakes on its property, but they are not on display. Lantz said the snakes are the personal property of former Executive Director H. Doug Kemper, Jr. and he is in the process of removing them from the property. Lantz said the zoo is not displaying venomous snakes because the pose a threat to her staff. Lantz said Kemper was the only person at the zoo qualified to handle the snakes and that anti-venom is a rare commodity in Northwest Florida.

"From my understanding, the closest place to here [with anti-venom] is Tampa. If we have an issue we have to fly it in," Lantz said. "We want to make sure we have high quality exhibits that we can display safely for our staff."

In addition to the requirements mentioned above, FWC is implementing rules that regulate personal ownership of wildlife.

Anyone who possesses a Class I wildlife permit with limited exceptions now must have a minimum of five acres of property. Additionally, facilities housing Class I captive wildlife cannot be in areas zoned solely for residential use.

People that own Class II wildlife, which includes many species of monkeys, bobcats, cougars, wolves, coyotes and caiman, must now have a minimum of two and a half acres. FWC officials require substantial experience and specific cage and facility requirements to be met before they will issue a permit.

Nonnative venomous reptiles are all species of venomous snakes and lizards that do not occur naturally in Florida. Reptiles of Concern are the Indian or Burmese python, African rock python, amethystine python, reticulated python, green anaconda and Nile monitor lizard. People possessing any venomous reptiles or Reptiles of Concern must be permitted, paying a fee of $100 per year. They also must meet new, stricter caging and facility requirements.