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Dr. Christine Miller examines a duckling.
Dr. Frank Ridgely examines a boa constrictor.
The lionfish was the highlighted species. |
SummaryPhotos by: John Birk 
A surrendered hedgehog.
Kids get up close and
personal with animals at
Amnesty Day
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The 5th Nonnative Pet Amnesty Day was held March 21, 2009 at the Miami MetroZoo. Approximately 500 people attended the event, and 100 animals were surrendered, including 21 snakes, 22 lizards, 40 turtles and tortoises, 7 birds, 8 mammals and 2 fish.Eight exhibition tents were manned by the FWC Exotic Fish Laboratory, the Miami Science Museum, Everglades National Park, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department, Miami Seaquarium, FWC Project WILD and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This year the lionfish was highlighted and a live display complimented the exhibit by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation. Dr. Tom Goldsmith, a local veterinarian. provided reduced-cost microchipping services for reptiles of concern. 
Miami Science Museum staff shows off a tortoise. | |
Media coverage at the Amnesty Day event included local and national news stations, international tv, newspapers and commercial television shows: Univision, Fox National News, NBC National News, Noticias 41, RAI (Italian Television), WPTV, WPLG, Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald, and two broadcast shows from Animal Planet. People Magazine’s People Pets website and CNN requested information after the event. Media coverage has reached other states, including Iowa, Nebraska, and Connecticut.  
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