Bill banning serval, kangaroo ownership in Illinois passes House
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A bill in the statehouse to ban Illinoisans from owning more types of wild animals passed one chamber of the Illinois General Assembly Thursday.
The bill, filed in January by Rep. Daniel Didech (D-Buffalo Grove), would make it illegal to own servals, kangaroos, wallabies, and caracals, as well as all hybrid animals with those species. Current owners of savannah cats, a cross-breed of a serval with a domesticated cat, in the state would be grandfathered into the new law.
Didech said the bill is important after servals were accidentally set loose last year in Vernon Hills and Decatur. People who encountered the animals described them as “aggressive”, and law enforcement and animal control officials requested the change, the Democratic lawmaker said.
“I am pleased that we are one step closer to keeping these wild, dangerous animals out of residential neighborhoods in Illinois,” Didech said in a statement to WCIA. “HB 4446 has been a collaboration between law enforcement, animal control professionals, and Illinois veterinarians. I am grateful for my colleagues in the House who voted yes to pass this important bill.”
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Amendments to the bill allows federally licensed facilities (like exhibitors, research facilities and animal transporters) and veterinary hospitals to keep dangerous animals. Any film or TV production can also use dangerous animals legally if they employ a handler or similar company.
Republicans did not support the bill and criticized it as unnecessary compared to other bills the General Assembly were considering.
“Bans on kangaroos and exotic cats made the cut while Republican bills to reduce taxes, hold criminals accountable and strengthen families were blocked by Democrats,” Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savana), the House Minority Leader, said in a statement earlier this month. “The priorities of this chamber are upside down.”
The bill passed with a 67-34-3 vote. It now heads to the Senate.
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