sb310 testimony

7/29/2019 SB310 Testimony

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April 16, 2012

Chairman Hite, Vice-Chairman Schaffer, Ranking Minority Member Gentile, and Members of theCommittee:

Please consider the following comments in support of S.B. No. 310.

My name is Kari Bagnall, Founder and President of Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary. Jungle FriendsPrimate Sanctuary will support this Bill if ALL non-human primates are listed as 'wild and dangerous'. Thisinclusion is imperative and I will explain in detail why, but first allow me to introduce Jungle FriendsPrimate Sanctuary.

Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary has offered homes to over 100 ex-pet new-world monkeys for over 15years. The monkeys at Jungle Friends are mostly ex-pet capuchins, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys,marmosets and tamarins who were cast off from the exotic pet trade from all over the U.S., as well asOhio. Although the authorities confiscated some of the monkeys, most of these monkeys were given upvoluntarily by the owners due to aggression, attacks and escapes.

Jungle Friends is accredited by both the American Sanctuary Association (ASA) and the Global

Federation of Accredited Sanctuaries (GFAS). I understand the need to flush out pseudo sanctuaries,however, there are credible sanctuaries who are not accredited by GFAS, so I believe the description of a'Wildlife Sanctuary' should also include an accreditation by ASA and for those sanctuaries who fall underthe description of a sanctuary as described by the US Fish and Wildlife Commission (see exhibits A andB).

Jungle Friends holds a Class C Exhibitor USDA license, although we are not open to the public, we arerequired to have a USDA license because we have volunteers and interns. The USDA does not offer asanctuary or pet license. Jungle Friends also has a state permit from the Florida Fish and WildlifeConservation Commission, which is required for sanctuaries, breeders and people whom posses petmonkeys. We also have a Special Use permit from the county for the sanctuary in Alachua County.

Jungle Friends has a million-dollar liability insurance policy through the Animal Welfare Organization

Insurance Program (AWOIP), who also offers policies in Ohio. The cost of this policy is $1,835.41 peryear. If and when an insurance provider learns there is a wild animal in the house, the homeownerinsurance will likely be canceled; and even if the insurance provider does not find out about the animalliving on the property, the policy will not usually cover a monkey attack. If the state of Ohio deems thesemonkeys to be NOT dangerous, when monkeys are very dangerous, as any professional will attest to,the state of Ohio may be sued when these monkeys attack, rather than the owner. The averageperson believes that wild animals can be domesticated, which of course, they cannot. It took over 10,000years for wolves to become domesticated dogs, monkeys are still monkeys and they are wild anddangerous. It is up to the authorities to tell the truth about monkeys, and should not be left to thebreeders and brokers who are benefitting from this ignorance.

The most notable Ohio capuchin monkey that Jungle Friends offered a home to was Jack (see exhibit C),who was found chained to the porch in freezing weather when the police were called after gunshots wereheard. Evidently, this was a drug deal gone bad. In addition to Jack, two men were found shot to death,

along with another who was critically wounded. They also found drugs, cash, automatic weapons and apitbulI. These are definitely not the types of people who should be handling monkeys! Jack was interrible condition and transported to the Dayton Humane Society. His condition was such that he was noteven able to travel to Jungle Friends until his health improved.

Speaking of health, Jungle Friends has 13 type 2 diabetic monkeys, which is directly related to a poordiet, sedentary lifestyle and stress. In addition, we prepare eleven bowls of special food for toothlessmonkeys every day. These monkeys teeth were removed, not to due health reasons, but because theirowners were concerned about being bitten by them! (see Exhibit E).


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Tiki was another capuchin monkey who was also given up by an owner in Ohio. Due to family troublesand an eviction, the owner had nowhere to go with the monkey. Most of the monkeys at JF were given updue to aggression, however, sometimes life gets in the way - capuchin monkeys can live into their 50sand we had a cotton-top tamarin that was 28 years old when she died, many monkeys will outlive theirowners!

ALL monkeys are aggressive. One example is with the former owner of Ernie and Hayley, Susan.

Ernie and Hayley are white-faced capuchins who came from Las Vegas, NV and arrived at JungleFriends on March 29, 2005. Ernie was nine years old, and Hayley was just a few years younger. Theywere both being kept as 'pet' monkeys and they did what most 'pet' monkeys do, which was to bitesomeone and then bite some more! Ernie's ex-owner, Susan, had the stitches and the plastic surgery billto prove it! One day the housekeeper left the cage unlocked. Both monkeys escaped and viciouslyattacked the Housekeeper when she tried to put them back in the cage. Then the monkeys opened thedoor and went into the neighbors back yard. Fortunately the neighbor was able to trap the monkeys inthe storage shed while they called for help.Susan was sued by the Housekeeper who was attacked by themonkeys and had to pay $60,000 for pain and suffering, as well as nearly $30,000 in medical bills. On topof this, Susans homeowners insurance was cancelled, and her monkeys narrowly escaped decapitationto test for rabies. Fortunately these monkeys are now safe and happy at Jungle Friends. White-facedcapuchins seem to be even more territorial and aggressive than other monkey species.

Another example is Maryanna, who was attacked by a seven pound capuchin while cleaning its cage.She nearly lost her thumb as a result. The pictures say it all! (see exhibit D).

I would also like to mention that neutering or castration is more invasive than a vasectomy. JungleFriends vasectomizes our male capuchins, which we feel allows for better group dynamics. If a medicalprocedure is not appropriate, we form bachelor groups. Certainly, we do not want monkeys reproducing.My hope is that this Bill will stop monkey breeding in the state of Ohio and set an example for other statesto follow. Baby monkeys are stolen from their Mother's as early as 3-days old to be sold as pets.Capuchin monkeys can live on their Mother's back and nurse for up to two years! Kittens and puppies arenot sold until they are weaned from their mothers. Why then are monkeys not offered the samecompassion? This thievery not only affects the baby monkeys psychologically, it directly affects theirphysiology and their future health. One of our veterinarians, Bobby Collins, DVM and primatologist, ErinEhmke, PhD can attest to the problems these sentient beings face in captivity.

Thank you for considering these comments and suggestions.

Sincerely,

Kari BagnallFounder/President


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EXHIBITS

Exhibit A: USFWS Definition of a Sanctuary:

Wildlife sanctuaries must meet all of the following criteria toqualify as an accredited wildlifesanctuary under the CWSA:

1. Approval by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a corporation that is tax exempt fromtaxation under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, which is describedin sections 501(c)(3) and 170(b)(I)(A)(vi) of that code.

2. No commercial trade in the prohibited wildlife species including offspring, parts, andproducts;

3. No propagation of the prohibited wildlife species; and

4. No direct contact between the public and the prohibited wildlife species.

Accredited wildlife sanctuaries must maintain complete and accurate records of anypossession, transportation, sale, acquisition, purchase, barter, disposition, importation, orexportation of the prohibited wildlife species. These records must be kept up to date andinclude the names and addresses of persons to or from whom any prohibited wildlife specieshas been purchased, sold, bartered, imported, exported or otherwise transferred; and thedates of these transactions. Accredited wildlife sanctuaries must maintain these records for 5years, must make these records accessible to Service officials for inspection at reasonablehours, and must copy these records for Service officials, if requested.

Accredited wildlife sanctuaries must make these records, their facilities, and their prohibited

wildlife specimens accessible to Service officials for inspection at reasonable hours to beconsistent with the conditions of permit issuance and acceptance in the Services generalpermit procedures contained in 50 CFR 13.21(e)(2).

Exhibit B: ASA Definition of a Sanctuary:

A sanctuary is a place where animals can come to live and be protected for the rest of theirlives. Its a safe haven, where they receive the very best care possible.

Animals are not bought, sold, bred, traded, used for commercial purposes or mistreated inany way. They are given every opportunity to behave naturally in a wonderfully lovingenvironment.


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Exhibit C: Jack

This is Jack, from Ohio, the photo was taken at the Dayton Humane Society.


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This is Jack at Jungle Friends enjoying peer play with another monkey, Connie, who is diabetic

and on insulin injections.


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This is Jack a few years later at Jungle Friends playing with another monkey, BamBam, who

was scheduled for euthanasia for her second attack on a human.


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Exhibit D: Maryanna

This is Maryanna Pinto who was attacked by a 7-pound capuchin; she nearly lost the use of her

thumb.


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A close up of Maryannas hand after the attack at the hospital


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Exhibit E: Monkeys

This is Billy, an ex-helping hands brown capuchin monkey who had his teeth extracted, which is

why his tongue doesnt stay in his mouth and why he drools constantly.

Mickey is a white-faced toothless capuchin monkey, confiscated by the authorities due to animal

abuse charges. And Travis, a toothless spider monkey turned over to Jungle Friends when he

became unmanageable.


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This is Udi who came to us with severe metabolic bone disease from improper diet and no

sunshine, he couldnt even walk, his hands were turned around and he had a terrible overbite.

Udi today, healthy and happy, living with three other spider monkeys.

sb310 testimony

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