Defenders of Wildlife Blog

Gov. Scott vetoed the Jurassic Park bill, which would have allowed state zoos to lease state lands for research on animals like rhinos.

Which is worse: an elephant in the room or rhino in the backyard? Thanks to a move by Florida Governor Rick Scott, residents of the Sunshine State won’t have to find out–at least for now. He put an end to the state’s controversial “Jurassic Park” bill on Friday, vetoing the piece of legislation that would have allowed state zoos and aquariums to lease state-owned land to conduct breeding and research on animals including giraffes, zebras and rhinos.

While rejecting HB 1117,, Gov. Scott wrote that it “lacks sufficient safeguards” to “ensure the protection of state … lands, native species and habitats.” That’s a message Defenders has been delivering to Tallahassee ever since the Florida Legislature sent the measure to Gov. Scott’s desk in March. Evidence shows that exotic animals and plants can cause serious costly damage to our public lands, and present an array of serious problems including the escape of animals, the spread of nonnative seed from feed, and potential spread of disease.

Florida ecosystems and native wildlife are already at risk from exotic species run wild. And as America saw last fall in Ohio, escaped animals may even pose a threat to people and property.

Defenders’ Laurie Macdonald said of the bill’s rejection, “Gov. Scott’s veto signals a commitment to protecting the natural Florida we all know and love. Now our public land managers can concentrate on fulfilling their mission of protecting and restoring native wildlife and habitat—without fear of an angry rhino stomping on  those plans.”

Animals like the Florida panther depend on the state's public lands for survival.

This victory comes with a caveat – technically the state already has the authority to lease lands out to this purpose. But as Laurie warned the Tampa Bay Times, “We will be watching very closely any applications for this use.”

YOU DID IT!

Thanks go out to the thousands of Defenders supporters wrote to Gov. Scott asking him to veto this misguided bill. Your efforts help protect the native wildlife that makes Florida such a unique and special place!

Learn more about how we’re working to protect Florida wildlife and habitats.

By: Stephanie Carroll Carson, Public News Service – FL

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Listen to this story with Defenders’ Laurie Macdonald on the Public News Service.

The Jurassic Park bill would allow state zoos to lease state lands for research on animals like rhinos.

TAMPA, Fla. – Living next to a state-owned park in Florida might lead its neighbors to expect they would be living next to native species. However, they might see more exotic critters if a bill passed on Friday by the Florida Legislature is signed into law.

HB 1117, known as the Jurassic Park Bill, would allow 16 state zoos and aquariums to lease state-owned land to conduct research on animals including giraffes, zebras and rhinos.

The bill’s supporters say it will help preserve endangered species in places such as Africa. However, Laurie MacDonald, Defenders of Wildlife’s Florida director, questions their reasoning.

“I am just astonished people who care about conservation of species on other continents would want to put non-natives on our public lands.”

MacDonald and other opponents of the bill say allowing the non-native animals will endanger other species and pose some property risks, as well as placing additional demands on the state’s wildlife resource employees at a time when funding is scarce.

Dave Sumpter, who heads the group Wildlands Conservation, is concerned that allowing exotic species to be housed on public lands also will disturb long-term plans to link the natural travel corridors for native species such as bears – or even lure native species into problem behaviors.

The presence of exotic species could threaten efforts to protect habitat for native animals like black bears.

“If you have a block of land that’s got to be contained specifically to hold zebras, it also won’t allow for passing of our native species, like deer.”

The Jurassic Park Bill also allows for exotic, non-native birds. Sumpter notes the inability to contain winged animals means they’re likely to escape the designated habitat. Opponents also question why public lands should be available where private lands could be used instead.

The bill now goes to the governor’s desk. Its text is online at flasenate.gov.

Learn more:

Read more about what the Jurassic Park bill could mean for Florida wildlife in the Tampa Bay Times and the Miami Herald.