Consumers are speaking out against the “inadequate” provisions to safeguard visitors to Florida animal parks - and the costs they could incur in dealing with injuries and lost work days.
The state currently requires such parks and sanctuaries to carry licenses to keep captive wildlife such as alligators, venomous snakes, lions, and bears, but the law does not require them to carry insurance for the risks the animals may bring.
Andrea Schlake, who volunteered at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Beach in 2010 recounted in an abc report that the facility asked her to sign a waiver indicating she would be held liable for any injuries she may sustain while working there.
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She said she incurred $70,000 in medical bills after being attacked by a chimpanzee while cleaning its enclosure. The Sanctuary did not reimburse her expenses, she said, because they did not have insurance for such risks.
Florida only gives license holders the option to either take out a $2 million liability insurance policy, paying the Florida Wildlife Commission $10,000 showing a $10,000 letter of credit or posting a $10,000 bond.
“It’s just outrageous that that’s allowed,”
abc quoted Schlake as saying.
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