DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL INSTITUTE HOSTS FIRST
CAPTIVE WILD ANIMAL PROTECTION COALITION'S
"WILD ANIMALS ARE NOT PETS DAY"

(SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.) -SEPTEMBER 23, 2003- The Captive Wild Animal Protection Coalition (CWAPC), which represents 20 leading animal protection organizations, zoos and sanctuaries, will be holding the first of a series of events designed to turn the spotlight on the problem of keeping wild animals as pets. The first event is scheduled at the Detroit Zoological Institute on Saturday, September 27th from 10:00am to 5:00pm.

CWAPC believes the practice of keeping wild animals as "pets" is reaching crisis levels for both people and animals. CWAPC estimates that in the United States today private citizens own more than 10,000 large cats -- lions, tigers, cougars, leopards and jaguars. Other wild animals such as monkeys, bears, venomous snakes and other dangerous animals are kept as pets by the thousands. These animals pose health and safety risks to their owners and to the community at large.

Wild and exotic animals can potentially transmit numerous highly contagious diseases to humans and other animals. Every year wild animals kept as "pets" or in private menageries injure or kill children and adults. In two separate incidents, a 3-year old boy and a 9-year old girl were killed by pet tigers in Texas; a 4-year old girl was bitten by a herpes-b positive monkey; and just last month, a firefighter was killed by an escaped pet viper snake.

Most wild animals are housed inhumanely and endure lives of suffering and deprivation. CWAPC is deeply concerned about the welfare of wild animal pets likely to be confiscated or abandoned in increasing numbers. Animal shelters, zoos and sanctuaries can not take in all the animals discarded by private owners when they become too big, too dangerous or too expensive to care for.

The "Wild Animals Are NOT Pets Day" is the first of four events scheduled this year at accredited zoos. The event will provide information about the problems facing wild animals and guide individuals as to what they can do to help reduce the trade in wild animals as pets. CWAPC is working to reduce the supply and demand for wild animals as pets, promote appropriate legislation to control the trade in wild animals, and inform and educate the public about issues relating to wild animals as pets.

Kim Haddad, a veterinarian and the Manager of CWAPC states, "There will be hundreds of appropriate pets--loving dogs and cats in need of good homes--we hope everyone looking for an animal companion will come the zoo and adopt a pet, not a problem."

For information on CWAPC and upcoming events:

Captive Wild Animal Protection Coalition
Kim Haddad, DVM
(650) 595-4692

P.O. Box 6944
San Carlos, CA 94070
www.cwapc.org

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