http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/2012/2012_04_02_ps%20120402%20amnesty.mp3
Owners of illegal exotic pets had a "no-questions-asked" opportunity to surrender their animals to state environmental officials this weekend. WNPR's Patrick Skahill has more on the DEEP's "Animal Amnesty Day"
That hissing is from a nine-foot long Burmese python. It was one of seven exotic and illegal pets surrendered at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport on Saturday.
Colonel Kyle Overturf of the DEEP's Environmental Conservation Police said, "These are seven animals that we've been able to make sure are no longer either a public safety threat or we're making sure that the animals are going to be well taken care of."
He says the amnesty day was an opportunity for residents to turn in their exotic pets anonymously and without any fear of legal reprisal. In addition to two Burmese pythons, officials collected a pair of American alligators and an alligator snapping turtle.
Overturf said all animals collected on Saturday will go to Rainforest Reptile Shows - a wildlife educational organization based in Massachusetts. Michael Ralbovsky is their general curator. He says he's seen a lot of exotic pets in his career, but the strangest?
"A Gaboon viper that came out of a house," he said. "The woman was sleeping with it here in New England."
Fortunately, the DEEP collected nothing so strange - or dangerous over the weekend. The state issued stricter guidelines for exotic pet ownership last month. The changes came in the wake of a brutal 2009 chimpanzee attack.
For WNPR, I'm Patrick Skahill.
