03/19/2024
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Daniel Parker, Director of Media for USARK FL, spoke to the Calusa Herpetological Society in Ft. Myers on March 7, 2024 to announce the defeat of HB 1033, a bill which would have banned all iguanas from being kept in Florida.
Florida Iguana Ban Defeated!
A bill seeking to ban all species of Iguanas failed as the session ended last Friday. This bill, HB 1033, was filed by Republican State Representative Sam Killebrew of Winter Haven.
This legislation would have expanded the current ban on Green iguanas to include Rock iguanas, Rhinoceros iguanas, Spiny-tailed iguanas, Chuckwallas, and all other Iguanid lizards.
Some of the largest assurance colonies of endangered Iguanas are found at Florida facilities. These captive breeding programs would help prevent extinction of those species if their wild populations continue to deteriorate. In addition to its negative conservation impacts, this bill would have further degraded the freedoms of reptile keepers and small businesses within Florida. It also sought to ban the sales of dog and cats in pet stores.
USARK FL effectively lobbied State Representatives against the bill. We organized a public call-in and email campaign to legislators to oppose the bill. HB 1033 never even got a committee hearing. We also collaborated with other pet advocates against the bill. With the legislative session ending on Friday, the bill is dead. Thank you to all who participated in the effort to defeat this bad bill!
Online Auction to Support USARK FL Next Weekend!
Please contact [email protected] to donate auction items.
USARK FL Online Auction at BSRAUCTIONS.COM
March 16-17, 2024
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to acquire stunning reptiles while supporting USARK FL!
