Can you own a zebra in Ohio?
Can you own a zebra in Ohio? A Circleville man was hospitalized Sunday after a zebra he owned nearly bit his arm off, and though attending deputies may have been surprised to see zebras in the area, the animals are not considered dangerous under Ohio’s law requiring certain animals to be registered with the state.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s exotic-animal law was implemented in 2012 following the 2011 incident of a Zanesville man releasing over 50 exotic animals before dying by suicide.
The law prohibits private ownership of restricted animal species, which includes venomous snakes, lions, tigers, bears, elephants, and certain types of monkeys.
However, the law permits existing exotic-animal owners to keep their animals as long as they register them and comply with the law’s care and caging standards.
Owners are prohibited from acquiring new animals or breeding the ones they have.
What animals are banned in Ohio?
The list of banned “dangerous wild animals” include hyenas, gray wolves, lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, cougars, bears, elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, Cape buffaloes, African wild dogs, Komodo dragons, alligators, crocodiles, gharials, caimans and any of their hybrids, excluding dwarf caimans.
Primates that are not allowed in Ohio include golden lion, black-faced lion, golden-rumped lion, cotton-top, emperor, saddlebacked, black-mantled, and Geoffroy’s tamarins, Southern and
Northern night monkeys, dusky titi and masked titi monkeys, muriquis, Goeldi’s monkeys, white-faced, blackbearded, white-nose bearded, and monk sakis, bald and black uakaris, black-handed, white-bellied, brownheaded, and black spider monkeys, common woolly monkeys, red, black and mantled howler monkeys.
What animals are exempt?
Marmosets, capuchins, lemurs, and squirrel monkeys are permitted. Additionally, spider monkeys trained by nonprofit organizations as service animals are exempted from the law. Individuals are advised to check with their local authorities to ensure that these species are allowed in their area.
Some Ohioans have primates that others cannot have due to the law, which allows certain owners to be grandfathered in.
While the law does not forbid all types of monkeys, new owners can only purchase certain kinds, such as lemurs.
Who doesn’t need a license?
The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s licensing requirements do not apply to various organizations, such as zoos and aquariums accredited by the Accredited Association of Zoos and Aquariums, research facilities accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International, U.S.D.A. licensed circuses, wildlife shelters accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, and more.
Who may not be able to receive a license?
Certain criminal offenses may disqualify individuals from obtaining a license, including homicide and assault; kidnapping and extortion; sex offenses; arson; offenses against the family, including domestic violence, child endangerment and abuse and unlawful abortion; offenses related to domestic animals and livestock; and more.