Virginia Proposes Expanding List Of Animals Banned As Pets

HENRICO, Va. -- Time could be running out for you to get that special gorilla or rhino for your home.

A state panel on Wednesday proposed expanding the list of animals Virginia doesn't allow as pets.

The list, maintained by the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, already includes animals such as big cats and bears.

The panel, which is studying whether to tighten rules on keeping dangerous animals, proposed adding to the list creatures such as chimps, rhinos, orangutans, hippos, baboons, powerful Cape buffaloes and giant lizards called Komodo dragons.

While everyone seemed to agree the animals are dangerous, it was unclear how much restricting their ownership would protect the public. After all, how many Virginians own gorillas or Komodo dragons?

"That's one of the unknowns that we have," said Ed Steinkoenig, the game department's permits manager. "We simply don't know what is out there."

The proposal to expand the no-pet list would require a change in state regulations, which would call for more discussion and public comment. Under current rules, animals like big cats and bears can't be kept as pets, but zoos and educational organizations can own them.

Some of the panel's hardest work remains -- figuring out what, if anything, to do about the keeping of monkeys, big constricting snakes like pythons, and venomous snakes like cobras.

Continued:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/25/va-animal-bans_n_2015396.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-animals