Source: http://animallaw.info/articles/great_apes/ddusgarhodeisland.htm
Timestamp: 2014-03-08 18:34:00
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Detailed Discussion of Rhode Island Great Apes Laws
The state of Rhode Island controls possession and importation of great apes by law (RI ST §§ 4-18-1 et seq.). The law prohibits the importation, receiving, or possession of certain wildlife, including primates, without a valid permit (RI ST § 4-18-3). Interestingly, this prohibition applies primarily to commercial ownership, while one of the main exceptions to the law is the importation of wild animals as personal pets (RI ST § 4-18-6(c)).
Like other states, Rhode Island does not define great apes as “endangered” under its own endangered species law (RI ST §§ 20-37-1 – 5). It does, however, cover them by reference to federal law (RI ST § 20-37-2). Rhode Island prohibits any commerce of federal protected endangered species.
Finally, great apes are covered under the state’s anti-cruelty law (RI ST §§ 4-1-1 – 40).
Rhode Island has a law addressing the importation of wild animals into the state. The law applies to all persons, including, but not limited to: educational and research institutions, zoological gardens, schools, colleges, universities, pet stores, animal care facilities, and laboratories (RI ST § 4-18-1). Under this law, no person shall import into, receive, or possess in the state without first obtaining a permit from the department, certain listed animals, including primates (RI ST § 4-18-3). The statute defines “primate” as “a nonhuman member of the highest order of mammals, including prosimians, monkeys, and apes” (RI ST § 4-18-3(8)). While the law clearly applies to commercial users of great apes, one of the main exceptions to the law is the importation of wild animals as personal pets (RI ST § 4-18-6(c)). Although personal pets are exempt from the other requirements of the statute, a person wishing to import a wild animal as a pet must still obtain a permit from the department. A permit may be granted by the department to import a wild animal as a personal pet, if a written affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury is completed at the time of entry at the site of first arrival.
Zoological collections and managed propagation facilities that are accredited by the American zoo and aquarium association (AZA) and licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are exempt from the permit requirements of the importation law (RI ST § 4-18-6(d)). The animals must be imported or born directly to a facility that is both AZA and USDA licensed. The facilities must comply with the department’s requirements prior to importation, including disease diagnostic tests, veterinary procedures and examinations, and individual identification requirements for each animal. In addition, the department has the right to examine and test wild animals if there is probable cause to suspect that the animals are harboring diseases or parasites that may endanger public or animal health. Measures that the department may use include, but are not limited to: quarantine, treatment, seizure, destruction, and postmortem examination.
Scientific testing and research facilities are covered under Rhode Island’s wildlife importation law. The law applies to all persons, including, but not limited to: educational and research institutions, zoological gardens, schools, colleges, universities, pet stores, animal care facilities, and laboratories (RI ST § 4-18-1). The law states that no person shall import into, receive, or possess in the state without first obtaining a permit from the department, certain listed animals, including primates (RI ST § 4-18-3). If a facility imports or possesses wildlife under an importation permit, they must comply with the quarantine requirements for the species they are importing (RI ST § 4-18-11). For more, see section III(A)(3) below.
Rhode Island addresses the use and possession of great apes through several avenues in its laws. The state has a wildlife importation law that limits the importation and possession of certain species, including primates (RI ST § 4-18-1 et seq.). In addition, Rhode Island’s endangered species law incorporates great apes by reference to the federal law. Finally, great apes are protected from cruelty under the state’s anti-cruelty provision.
The statute defines “primate” as “a nonhuman member of the highest order of mammals, including prosimians, monkeys, and apes” (RI ST § 4-18-3(8)).
Under this law, no person shall import into, receive, or possess in the state without first obtaining a permit from the department, certain listed animals, including primates (RI ST § 4-18-3). Personal pets under a special permit are exempt from the importation permit requirement (RI ST § 4-18-6(c)). Zoological collections and managed propagation facilities accredited by the AZA and USDA are also exempt from this chapter (RI ST § 4-18-6(d)).
The law requires that certain species imported into the state undergo quarantine for specified periods of time (RI ST § 4-18-11). For primates, the normal quarantine period must provide for a physical examination, examination of a tuberculin test by a veterinarian upon entry, and a repeat physical examination and tuberculin test thirty days later (RI ST § 4-18-11(a)(1)). Primates may be released from quarantine after completing the second tuberculin test if the following determinations are made by the attending veterinarian: both tuberculin tests are negative; the animals exhibit no visible ulcers; the animals show no clinical evidence of dysentery or diarrhea, emesis, emaciation, contagious skin lesions, central nervous system disturbances, jaundice, or abnormal respiratory signs; there is no evidence of zoonotic disease traced back to the quarantine animals; and the opinion of the attending veterinarian is that the animals are healthy (RI ST § 4-18-11(a)(1)(i) – (v)).
Any person who violates any provisions of this chapter shall be fined not less than $100, and the loss of any specimen referred to in this chapter (RI ST § 4-18-14).
All great apes are covered by the statute’s reference to the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. The law specifically defines “endangered species” to include “any animal or plant so declared by the United States secretaries of the interior or commerce under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.” (RI ST § 20-37-2).
Under § 20-37-3, commerce in endangered species is strictly prohibited, as it is illegal to “buy, sell, offer for sale, store, transport, import, export, or otherwise traffic in any animal or plant or any part of any animal or plant whether living, dead, processed, manufactured, preserved, or raw if the animal or plant has been declared to be an endangered species by either the United States secretaries of the interior or commerce or the director of the Rhode Island department of environmental management” (RI ST § 20-37-3).
The act includes exceptions for scientific research or educational display, but only if under the supervision of a legitimate college or university and with a special permit for each species (RI ST § 20-37-3). A permit cannot be issued if commercial considerations are involved in any way.
Violation of the statute results in fines of $500 to $5,000 or up to one year imprisonment, or both (RI ST § 20-37-5).