The Pittsburgh City Council has voted unanimously to ban ownership of alligators, crocodiles and red-eared sliders.
Half a dozen alligators were found in various parts of the Pittsburgh area during the summer of 2019, WPXI reports. The new legislation was delayed a year due to issues with the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, which would violated the new law prior to an exception being made, TribLIVE reports.
Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited facilities, as well as individuals who owned an alligator, crocodile or red-eared slider for six months prior to the ordinance must have $1 million in insurance coverage, would avoid violations, which could be worth up to $1,000.
The zoo, however, ended its accreditation with the AZA in 2015, and had been in violation on its lease with the city, but the issues have since been worked out over the last two weeks, according to Councilwoman Deb Gross.
“Everyone’s happy about the current path (the zoo) is on,” Gross said via TribLIVE.
The zoo will once again be in line with its lease and meet the exceptions provided under the new ordinance, Councilman Bruce Kraus, who sponsored the legislation, told TribLIVE.
Council initially took up the issue more than a year ago and voted unanimously in favor of the ban on Tuesday (March 23.)
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