TV personality Jack Hanna shocked Ohio has yet to crackdown on exotic animals

COLUMBUS (AP) — TV personality Jack Hanna says he’s shocked Ohio lawmakers have not yet passed a bill to regulate exotic animals, and he’s asking what it will take to get it accomplished.

Efforts to strengthen the state’s law took on new urgency in October when authorities were forced to kill 48 wild animals — including endangered Bengal tigers — after their owner freed them from his Zanesville farm and committed suicide.

Hanna, a former Columbus Zoo director, said the state isn’t facing some “little issue” of exotic animals, but what he described as bombs.

Hanna spoke today to the Ohio Newspaper Association in Columbus.

Republican state Sen. Troy Balderson of Zanesville had planned to introduce a bill this week, but says it’s not ready. There is no new timetable for the bill.