New legislation aimed at keeping exotic animals from escaping could close several zoos

It was just last year when an Ohio man opened the gates to his exotic animals and let them loose on the public.

Now a proposal introduced in the statehouse would regulate who gets to keep exotic animals, like lions, tigers, and bears.

The proposal would mean only places licensed by the American Zoological Association will be able to keep exotic pets.

We checked and the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk is on that list.

Related: 

Portsmouth police seize dozens of exotic animals from vacant home

Could owning a reptile become illegal in Virginia?

York County python found alive

Have you seen this python in York County?

But people would not be able to keep exotic pets like the python that disappeared in York County.

 

We’ll let you know if the proposal passes.