# Handling, Training, and Exhibition of Potentially Dangerous Exotic or Wild Animals > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-29991 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** November 14, 1997 - **Citation:** 62 FR 61079 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. 97-001-3] Handling, Training, and Exhibition of Potentially Dangerous Exotic or Wild Animals AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of reopening and extension of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We are reopening and extending the comment period for our notice requesting information concerning what practices are currently used for handling and training potentially dangerous exotic or wild animals used in exhibition (such as, but [[Page 61080]] not limited to, elephants, lions, or tigers), and what training and experience levels trainers and handlers of such animals have. This reopening and extension will provide interested groups and individuals with additional time to prepare comments on the request for information. DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments on Docket No. 97- 001-1 that are received on or before December 12, 1997. ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to Docket No. 97-001-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comments refer to Docket No. 97-001-1. Comments received may be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Stephen Smith, Staff Animal Health Technician, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234, (301) 734-7833. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On July 24, 1997, we published in the Federal Register (62 FR 39802, Docket No. 97-001-1) a notice requesting information concerning the training and handling of potentially dangerous wild and exotic animals used in exhibition in order to obtain a better understanding of the issues pertaining to their welfare. Comments on the request for information were required to be received on or before September 22, 1997. On September 22, 1997, we published in the Federal Register (62 FR 49468-49469, Docket No. 97-001-2) a notice that reopened and extended the comment period for an additional 45 days, to November 6, 1997. In the notice requesting information, we said we were most interested in receiving information that is in the form of published industry standards, published reports in peer-reviewed journals, studies, and objective scientific data. We have been made aware that several industry associations interested in submitting information have been unable to complete their consultation with members of their associations in order to compile information on accepted industry standards for the handling and training of exotic or wild animals. We believe this information would be helpful to us in obtaining a better understanding of the issues pertaining to the welfare of exotic or wild animals used in exhibition. In order that these groups can have time to compile the requested information, we are reopening and extending the comment period on Docket No. 97-001-1 to December 12, 1997. This action will also allow any other interested groups and individuals additional time to prepare and submit comments. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2131-2159; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(g). Done in Washington, DC, this 7th day of November 1997. Charles Schwalbe, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 97-29991 Filed 11-13-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-34-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-29991. Public record. Not legal advice.