The
federal government will review whether or not it needs to play a role in
how exotic pet stores are regulated says Prime Minister Stephen
Harper.
Early
on Monday, two young brothers in Campbellton were killed by an African
rock python that escaped its enclosure in an apartment located above
exotic pet store, Reptile Ocean.
As Harper made the vow yesterday, zoo staff seized 23 reptiles—among them, snakes, lizards and a Cuban crocodile—and
euthanized four American alligators belonging to the store. Officials
say they had to put the animals down because no zoo would take them.
The
species of python is banned in the province unless you have a special
permit. Environment Canada spokesman Mark Johnson says the department
was enlisted to help transport the python to Reptile Ocean 11 years ago
after it was abandoned at the SPCA in Moncton.