Tennessee’s Exotic Animal Laws prohibits the possession of certain exotic animals unless these animals were in the individual’s possession before this law went into effect on June 25, 1991. These exotic animals that are prohibited in Tennessee are gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, gibbons, mandrills, siamangs, drills and Gelada baboons, wolves, bears, lions, leopards, tigers, jaguars, cougars, cheetahs, elephants, rhinoceroses, hippos, African buffalos, crocodiles, alligators and all poisonous snakes and amphibians. All the previous prohibited exotic animals are considered dangerous to humans and can only be possessed in the State of Tennessee by circuses, zoos and commercial propagators. Even though there are many exotic animals listed as prohibited in Tennessee, there are several exotic animals that can be privately possessed such as monkeys, ocelots, servals and other animals. A person or persons interested in exotic animals possession in this state should research the matter further and make sure that they are within the law with the animal they are wishing to make as their next pet.
The Tennessee Exotic Animal Laws state certain animals can legally be possessed. These exotic animals are nonpoisonous amphibians and reptiles with the exception of gavials and caimans, hamsters, rats, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, chipmunks, squirrels, hares, rabbits, shrews, moles, chinchillas, ferrets, alpacas, llamas, vicunas, guanacos, camels, giraffes, bison, aquarium fish, semi-domestic sheep, swine and goats, marsupials, bovidae and primates not listed elsewhere, bobcat/domestic cat crosses, and common domestic farm animals and equine. Cervidae with the exception of white-tailed deer, Avian species with the exception of game birds, cassowary and ostriches and any fur bearing animals raised for their fur.
To receive a permit to possess an exotic animal in the State of Tennessee, the applicant for the permit must be at least 21 years old, they must have at least 2 years of handling or caring for the species of exotic animal they are applying for the permit for, the applicant must reside on the premises where the exotic animal will be housed or the animal must have a full-time caretaker that supervises the care and security of the animal and the facility that houses the animal. The applicant must pay the fee that coincides with the type of exotic animal for which they are applying. This fee will range from $10 to $150 for a personal possession permit.
So, anyone wishing to have an exotic pet in Tennesse can so with a little bit of research. Be sure that the exotic animal you are interested in is listed as one that can be privately possessed, which by the way, are usually less dangerous than those that are list as otherwise. This little bit of research could keep a person from spending time and money getting ready for their perfect pet just to realize that they legally can not have it within the borders of the State of Tennessee.
