Senate Bill 252 (S252) makes some changes to the “wild animal” law in New York. It is sponsored by Senator Monica R. Martinez with Senators Andrew Gounardes, Leroy Comrie, Rachel May, and Luis R. Sepúlveda as co-sponsors. The was referred to the Environmental Conservation Committee. You can find the Committee members at https://www.nysenate.gov/committees/environmental-conservation.
What it does:
- Redefines “wild animal” and “exotic animal.”
- Adds this definition for wild animal: “Wild animal” means indigenous, non-domesticated animals native to the country in which they live.
- Adds this term and definition: “Exotic animal” means a wild animal with an origin of a different continent. NOTE: The bill goes on to further define exotic animal to include only those species listed.
- Adds the below species to the state ban list (as wild or exotic animals):
(7) Macropodidae including but not limited to kangaroos, wallabies, tree-kangaroos, wallaroos, pademelons and quokkas,
(8) Cetacea (including whales and dolphins),
(9) Elephantidae (elephants),
(10) Hyaenidae (hyenas),
(11) Perissodactyla (including rhinoceroses, tapirs and zebras),
(12) Pinnipedia (including seals, sea lions and walruses),
(13) Xenarthra (including sloths, anteaters and armadillos),
(14) Viverridae (including bearcats),
(15) Cynomys, and
(16) Capybaras.
Read the bill text and more at https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S252. NOTE: The text in green is the new text, text in red shall be deleted, and the black text is current law.
