[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 118 (Friday, August 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               STOP THE KILLING OF CAPTIVE EXOTIC ANIMALS

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                            HON. DON EDWARDS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 19, 1994

  Mr. EDWARDS of California. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing, along 
with fifteen of my colleagues, the Captive Exotic Animal Protection Act 
of 1994. This bill would prohibit the killing or injuring for 
entertainment or trophy collection of exotic animals--animals not 
indigenous to the United States--held in captivity.
  This bill is quite simple really, it outlaws the practice of canned 
hunting. Canned hunts are hunts undertaken with animals purchased from 
zoos, circuses, and wild animal parks who are placed in cages or other 
enclosed areas and hunted for a fee. For example, the going rate at 
some hunting ranches for a Dama Gazelle is $3,500; for a Cape Buffalo, 
$6,000; and for a Red Deer, $6,000.
  Is it a legitimate hunt when these captively-bred animals, who have 
been raised by humans, fed by them daily, who do not sense danger, and 
are unlikely to run away are shot while lazing around under a tree?
  This bill does not seek to limit hunting practices involving animals 
in the wild. It is trying to stop a very specific practice that is 
nothing like a true hunt. Respected leaders in the hunting community 
have spoken out against these canned hunts as not real hunting. They 
further argue that this practice tarnishes all hunting.
  The Humane Society of the United States [HSUS] has just completed a 
3-year investigation of canned hunting. In the United States today, 
there are over 1,000 canned hunt facilities. The HSUS findings will 
shock you. Let me cite one case they uncovered to illustrate my point. 
At one facility a black leopard, captively-bred, who has been declawed 
and is virtually defenseless is surrounded by dogs after being released 
from a cage and is then immediately gunned down. How can anyone 
consider this shameless slaughter to be hunting?
  Two States, California and Wisconsin, have already passed laws to 
prohibit canned hunting. However, many States have not prohibited these 
facilities from operating. It is time to do something about this now. 
Please join the Humane Society of the United States and the American 
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and others in 
supporting this act.
  I encourage my colleagues to cosponsor the ``Captive Exotic Animal 
Protection Act of 1994'' and work for its swift enactment so that those 
exotic animals that have been bred for our enjoyment at zoos and 
circuses are cared for humanely throughout their lives.

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