[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 24 (Thursday, March 7, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     BALTIMORE ZOO WELCOMES ALASKA

  (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, at times it seems that so much that we 
deal with on this floor is beyond our control. Yet it seems that there 
are small steps that we can take to make a difference.
  One such step is a livable community promotes humane treatment of 
animals, whether in our community or the wild. Wild animals, such as 
polar bears, should be allowed to remain in their natural habitat and 
be contained only in spaces that directly replicate their natural 
environment, such as accredited zoos.
  Many have been appalled at the polar bears languishing in sweltering 
temperatures in the Suarez Brothers Circus in Puerto Rico. I am happy 
to report that yesterday U.S. marshals and agents with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service rescued Alaska, one of the polar bears. It turns 
out that the origins and identity of this polar bear may have been 
false on the Suarez Brothers' import permit obtained when entering the 
United States. If true, the circus would be violating international and 
domestic wildlife protection laws.
  I applaud the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for taking this action. 
I understand that Alaska will be housed at the Baltimore Zoo, and I 
think we can look forward to welcoming her to a safe and healthy 
environment. We can only hope the other six will be spared a life of 
misery performing circus tricks in tropical climates.

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