LANSING — Legislation designed to benefit Michigan
zoos was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee
Thursday, said Sens. Joe Hune and Tom Casperson.
Under Senate Bill 210, sponsored by Hune, facilities
accredited by the Zoological Association of America (ZAA)
would be exempt from the handling and care standards of
the Large Carnivore Act (Public Act 274 of 2000).
“Zoos accredited by the ZAA should be exempt from the
same state rules as those accredited by the Association
of Zoos and Aquariums,” said Hune, R-Hamburg Township,
chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “This bill
will benefit zoos that are dedicated to animal
conservation and provide our children with an
opportunity to see wild animals in a safe and
educational setting. I encourage my colleagues to
approve this measure.”
Carrie Cramer, of the DeYoung Family Zoo in Wallace,
Mich. and star of the Nat Geo Wild show My Life is a
Zoo, traveled to the state Capitol to testify before the
Senate panel in support of the measure.
“Enacting this bill will give parks more choice in
what association they want to join,” Cramer said. “The
ZAA is a wonderful organization that will help smaller,
private parks move forward in their professional
development, which will result in a positive impact for
animal husbandry practice and care in Michigan.”
According to the Legislative Services Bureau, a
nonpartisan legislative information and service agency,
the ZAA was established in 2005 to “promote responsible
conservation, preservation and propagation of animals in
both private and public domains.” Since the association
was formed after 2000, it was not included as one of the
organizations whose accreditation would allow for an
exemption from state law.
“The DeYoung Family Zoo is a fabulous place to
visit,” said Casperson, R-Escanaba. “Thanks to all of
Carrie and Bud’s hard work, visitors to the zoo can see
a variety of wild animals in Michigan’s beautiful Upper
Peninsula. The DeYoung Family Zoo and other such
facilities should have freedom to choose what
organization they want to be accredited through.”
According to ZAA’s website, facilities must meet
several requirements to become accredited: “Facilities
are graded in many categories, including the following:
physical facility, husbandry and animal care practices,
record keeping and health care records, knowledge of
animal personnel, animal diet and nutrition, facility
security, veterinary care, licensing and permits, and
safety plans.”
Under current law, zoos with large carnivore animals
such as mountain lions, tigers, leopards, bears and
wolves, must be accredited by the Association of Zoos
and Aquariums.
The DeYoung Family Zoo, run by Cramer and Bud DeYoung,
is home to more than 400 animals, including exotic
animals like tigers and a variety of monkeys, as well as
other animals like cows, llamas and horses. The park
sees about 70,000 visitors a year.
SB 210 will now go before the full Senate for further
consideration.
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