The second Exotic Pet Amnesty Event was held March 24, 2007, in
Clearwater. FWC was the lead agency, with Pinellas County
Youngster with a Burmese Python
Animal Services as our partner and the City of Clearwater as a cooperator.
Exhibitors participating in the event were ociety,
Suncoast Herpetological Society, West Pasco Exotic Bird Club, Central
Florida Herpetological Society, Tampa Bay Aquarium Society, University
of Florida/IFAS
Dr. Helmer microchips a Nile monitor
Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, USDA Wildlife Research
Center, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Dr. Janine Cianciolo
provided animal health services for all surrenders and Dr. Peter Helmer
performed a pit-tagging demonstration, microchipping 6 Reptiles of
Concern (4 Burmese pythons, 1 reticulated python and 1 Nile monitor)
owned by exhibitors at the event. Educational live animal shows
were given by Lowry Park Zoo and Crocodile Encounters.
Croc Encounters Show
Albino Reticulated Python
Spectacled Caiman
Blue Tilapia
Kids with a Burmese Python
Approximately 300-400 people attended the event, and 50 unwanted exotic
pets were
Dr. Cianciolo inspects a surrendered ball python
surrendered on site. These surrenders included 4 fish, 3
frogs, 6 lizards, 21 snakes and 15 turtles. No birds were
received. All surrenders were placed with adopters onsite, and all
adopters passed a background check performed by FWC law enforcement.
Additionally, 5 animals have been surrendered post-event, and are
currently in the process of being placed with adopters.
Our mission: Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.
