A family’s pet nutria is to be removed from a couple’s New Orleans home and moved to the Baton Rouge Zoo to be part of an educational exhibit, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced Thursday.
It is illegal to keep any wild animal as a pet, especially a coypu.
LDWF discovered the existence of the pet nutria after stories about the animal appeared in the New Orleans-area media this week. After the status was released, the department recommended its removal. The department also contacted the Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission, which operates the Baton Rouge Zoo, to find a way to save the animal.
Officials at the BREC and the zoo agreed Thursday to adopt the animal.
After those arrangements were finalized, LDWF agents contacted the owners and informed them that the animal would be removed and that arrangements were in place with the BR Zoo. In most cases, the animal would be released back into the wild. However, LDWF biologists and zoo officials said that because the animal has been habituated to humans, it could not survive in the wild.
It is illegal in Louisiana by law to possess injured or orphaned mammals without an LDWF rehabilitation permit, even if there are plans to release them. Owning wild animals as pets or for the pet trade is illegal. There is no permit for this activity and no permit will be issued for it.
In a statement released Thursday, zoo officials said they “plan to add the nutria to our animal family… The nutria will join our Ambassador Animal Program.”
“The zoo’s professional staff will look after the nutria as they would any other animal in their expert care and look forward to welcoming a new member to the zoo animal family.”
LDWF appreciates the owner’s affection for the animal and understanding of the rules regarding its removal. LDWF discourages the public from keeping wild animals as pets.
For more information on wildlife nuisance or rehabilitation of injured or orphaned wildlife, visit:
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