Florida Administrative Code › 68 - FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION › 68A - Freshwater Fish and Wildlife › Chapter 68A-6 - CAPTIVE WILDLIFE › Section 68A-6.016 - Public Contact with Captive Wildlife

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
Unconfined captive wildlife shall be maintained under rigid
				  supervision and control, so as to prevent injuries to members of the public. No
				  captive wildlife shall be tethered outdoors unsupervised. To provide for public
				  safety, all wildlife shall be tethered or controlled in such a manner as to
				  prevent physical contact with the public and a structural safety barrier, as
				  provided in paragraph
				  68A-6.009(2)(b),
				  F.A.C., must be present to prevent physical contact with unconfined Class I or
				  Class II wildlife except in instances where public contact is allowed in
				  subsection (1), below.
(1) Public
				contact and exhibition.
(a) General: All
				Class I, II or III wildlife that will be used for contact with the public shall
				have been evaluated by the exhibitor to insure compatibility with the uses
				intended. All wildlife shall be exhibited in a manner that prevents injuries to
				the public and the wildlife. The exhibitor shall take reasonable sanitary
				precautions to minimize the possibility of disease or parasite transmission
				which could adversely affect the health or welfare of citizens or wildlife.
				When any conditions exists that results in a threat to human safety, or the
				welfare of the wildlife, the animal(s) shall, at the direction of a Commission
				officer, be immediately removed from public contact for an interval necessary
				to correct the unsafe or deficient condition.
(b) Class I wildlife shall only be permitted
				to come into physical contact with the public in accordance with the following:
1. Full contact: For the purpose of this
				section, full contact is defined as situations in which an exhibitor or
				employee handler maintains proximate control and supervision, while temporarily
				surrendering physical possession or custody of the animal to another. Full
				contact with Class I wildlife is authorized only as follows:
a. Class I cats (Felidae only) that weigh not
				more than twenty-five (25) pounds,
b. Chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas that
				are not less than six (6) months of age and weigh not more than twenty-five
				pounds,
c. Gibbons and siamangs not
				less than four (4) months of age and not more than two (2) years of age,
d. Elephants as approved in Rule
				68A-6.007,
				F.A.C.
2. Incidental
				contact: For the purpose of this section, incidental contact is defined as
				situations in which an exhibitor or employee handler maintains control,
				possession and supervision of the animal while permitting the public to come
				into contact with it. Incidental contact with Class I wildlife is authorized
				only as follows:
a. Class I carnivores except
				cheetahs and cougars that weigh not more than 40 pounds,
b. Chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas that
				are not less than six (6) months of age and weigh not more than 40
				pounds,
c. Gibbons and siamangs
				that are not less than four (4) months of age: no maximum poundage or age
				limit,
d. Elephants,
e. Incidental contact with other Class I
				wildlife must be approved in writing by the Commission prior to the use of the
				wildlife for incidental contact with the public. Factors to be considered when
				approving such contact are found in paragraph
				(1)(a).
(c)
				Public contact or handling intervals for Class I wildlife shall be limited as
				to frequency, intensity, and duration so that such handling will not adversely
				affect the health, welfare, or safety of the animals, nor expose the public to
				injury.