News for Florida animal advocates

We don’t envy the FWC Division of Law Enforcement. Keeping track of the hundreds of tigers, bears, monkeys and other animals in private possession in Florida is undoubtedly a difficult job. When violations are found, it is understandable that the FWC is reluctant to revoke licenses or confiscate animals. After all, legitimate sanctuaries are already overfull with unwanted former exotic “pets.”But in the case of Darrell Atkinson, enough is enough!

Last Friday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) charged Atkinson with keeping a tiger in a substandard cage. It was the 43rd time that the FWC has filed charges against Atkinson since 1993 (including over 20 charges of keeping animals in cages that were too small).

The charge was a result of a February 9 incident at Atkinson’s Horseshoe Creek Wildlife Sanctuary in which a volunteer was clawed on the hand and leg by a tiger while cleaning the animals cage. Following the attack, FWC investigators found a tiger in a 13 x 13-foot cage, 11 feet shorter than the required minimum. The cage was also found to be made of chain link that was of insufficient strength. According to an FWC press release, “In addition, investigators found a tiger in an open-air cage, without the roof required…. Also, the cage had a damaged block wall with a hole large enough for the cat to escape.” The FWC is also trying to figure out where several new animals at Horseshore Creek came from (as part of a 2007 plea agreement, Atkinson promised not to acquire new animals).

Please contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and demand that Darrell Atkinson’s license to possess Class I wildlife (such as tigers, lions, bears and large primates) be permanently revoked.

Contact:
E-mail: Commissioners@MyFWC.com
Phone: (850) 488-6251

Darrell Atkinson is also facing a charge of Culpable Negligence for recklessly exposing the untrained volunteer to personal injury. Please contact the State Attorney for Polk County and urge him to take this case seriously, and if Mr. Atkinson is found guilty, to press for the maximum penalty. Remind the State Attorney’s Office that Atkinson’s recent arrest is a violation of his 2007 plea agreement. Ask that the 2007 charges be reinstated.

Contact:
State Attorney Jerry Hill
Tenth Judicial Circuit
Phone: (863) 534-4800
Online comment form.

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