Miami zoo takes in exotic pets on ‘amnesty day’

Mar 22, 2009 1 min read

MIAMI (AP) – A howler monkey, several boa constrictors, an African tortoise that dug up its yard and a macaw too loud for the neighbors were among the exotic pets handed over to state wildlife officers at the Miami Metrozoo.

Saturday was the zoo’s Nonnative Pet Amnesty Day. Wildlife officers accepted 102 animals that had become too big, too expensive or too troublesome to keep. The state will find new homes for the animals.

The animals’ owners won’t face any prosecution for keeping unlicensed animals. Officials say they hope to stop people from releasing problematic pets into the wild