EXOTIC ANIMALS AT RISK STAFF SHORTAGES MAKE LAW ENFORCEMENT TOUGH.

Byline: Angie Valencia-Martinez Staff Writer

California has some of the toughest exotic-animal protection laws on the books, but difficulties enforcing them have put many wild cats and other species at risk, officials say.

Following several high-profile cases involving captive animals, lawmakers and animal rights activists are questioning whether the California Department of Fish and Game is doing enough to protect the welfare of hundreds of exotic creatures and public safety.

``The laws in the book are very stringent,'' said Steve Martarano, a Fish and Game spokesman. ``There's a perception that if Joe next door wants a chimp in his back yard, all he has to do is go to Fish and Game and get a permit.''

But Martarano said there simply are not enough Fish and Game staff to enforce the laws.

``(Licensing) is pretty restricted, pretty specific. Enforcing is always another issue.''

A Moorpark couple were arrested in March and charged with lying to authorities when they denied owning a 350-pound Siberian tiger that was shot and killed after roaming Ventura County hillsides for weeks.

The tiger belonged to Gert Abby and Roena Emma Hedengran. They were licensed to keep exotic animals at a facility in the hills of Temecula, including tigers, lions and lynxes. But they failed to inform Fish and Game that they moved to Moorpark in January with more than 20 exotic animals.

The couple are scheduled to be arraigned May 16 when they will answer to federal charges.

Fish and Game is responsible for issuing ``restricted species'' permits and inspection of such shelters.

There are about 350 exotic-animal licenses in California. Ventura County alone is home to about 145 registered exotic animals. Currently, owners who apply for permits are required to follow guidelines in a 25-page manual.

The laws and regulations outline everything from qualifications, such as requiring that all applicants be at least 18 years old and have two years of full-time experience caring for animals; to requiring that all food be wholesome and palatable; to handling (animals cannot be chained or tethered, except during filming, training or exhibition, in an emergency situation or when repairs are being made to their cage).

There are also regulations regarding cage size. For example, a lion, tiger or cheetah requires at least 300 square feet of space. A rhinoceros or hippopotamus needs at least 1,500 square feet.

``We have probably some of the most comprehensive laws on the issue,'' said Nicole Paquette, an attorney with the Sacramento-based Animal Protection Institute. ``A law is only as good as the implementation and enforcement.''

In 2001, the nonprofit animal rights group filed a lawsuit against the agency because Fish and Game's laws and regulations were not properly enforced.

Specifically, the group challenged a law requiring all facilities with captive wild animals be inspected by Fish and Game officials or an eligible local entity, such as an animal control officer or a private, trained individual who has signed a memorandum of understanding with the agency.

Instead, private veterinarians continue to conduct the checkups, which critics say is a conflict of interest.

Out of the more than 300 facilities that have state licenses, Fish and Game wardens inspected only 14 last year, Martarano said.

The lawsuit was settled, and a new policy is still being hammered out.

``Frankly, we don't have the manpower (to inspect all the facilities),'' Martarano said. ``There are other priorities.''

Even though the law prohibits people from owning exotic animals as pets, individuals may acquire licenses for research, exhibition, breeding, rehabilitation, and sheltering such as in a sanctuary.

Lisa Wathne, spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said California has progressive laws addressing the private ownership of exotic animals, but there are too many loopholes that allow people to slip under the wire.

``These animals don't belong in captivity,'' she said. ``Not only is it extremely cruel to the animals involved, but it's a very obvious public safety issue.

``What we want is for those loopholes to be closed and the existing laws to be enforced more aggressively.''

The API continues to look for ways to address what it calls lax oversight on part of state regulators. Recently, the organization became an ally of Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, R-Moorpark, who is pushing legislation meant to correct ``gross inadequacies of state laws.''

``This a public safety issue,'' said Strickland.

Strickland lives roughly a mile from where the adult male tiger was slain after roaming the hills between Simi Valley and Camarillo for nearly a month.

Officials allege the animal escaped during a move, prompting a massive search by experienced trackers.

Throughout the search, the Hedengrans maintained their innocence. An investigation by state and federal officials concluded that ``Tuffy'' was in fact the couple's missing tiger.

Angie Valencia-Martinez, [phone]

angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Difficulties enforcing state exotic-animal laws put many wild cats like this lynx as well as other species at risk, officials say.

(2) Brockett's Film Fauna animal trainer Stephanie Burns holds a permitted 8-foot albino Burmese python named Lemon.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News