COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Proposed legislation in Ohio would ban the purchase of lions, bears and other exotic animals, but current owners of the dangerous wildlife would be allowed to keep them as pets if they meet strict new requirements.

State Sen. Troy Balderson sent a letter Friday afternoon to state lawmakers, asking them to sign on to the proposal. He plans to introduce the bill Tuesday, and hearings are planned next week.

Ohio has some of the nation's weakest restrictions on exotic pets. Efforts to strengthen the state's law took on new urgency in October when authorities were forced to kill 48 wild animals – including endangered Bengal tigers – after their owner freed them from his Zanesville farm and then committed suicide.

"For the safety of our citizens and the animals, our regulations must ensure that the horror inflicted on my neighbors and constituents in Zanesville never happens in Ohio again," Balderson, a Zanesville Republican, wrote.

Terry Thompson, 62, released the animals on Oct. 18. Six were captured and taken to the Columbus zoo, where they were put under quarantine by the state. One, a spotted leopard, was euthanized after it was hit[...]

[Published in GreenNews - Read the original article]