Gov. John Kasich signed a bill that would ban new ownership of dangerous exotic animals on Tuesday.
In May, the Ohio House and Senate approved chances to the bill that included lower permit fees and liability insurance requirements than originally set forth in the measure, 10TV News reported.
Regulatory efforts took on new urgency in October, when Terry Thompson released 56 exotic animals from his farm near Zanesville.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium held the five surviving animals in quarantine for months, until the Ohio Department of Agriculture announced that the state had exhausted its authority. The animals were returned to Thompson’s widow, Marian Thompson.
The measure takes effect in three months and bans people from buying new dangerous exotic animals.
Current owners could keep their creatures by registering them with the state within 60 days of the bill's effective date. Owners would also have to obtain a new state-issued permit by 2014 and adhere to strict new caretaking standards.
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