Japan to require microchips for 'dangerous' animals

Iria · Oct 13, 2005, 05:16 PM

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is moving towards requiring owners of potentially dangerous animals, such as crocodiles and pythons, to have microchips implanted in their pets in case the animals get loose, officials said on Thursday.

The move follows a recent wave of incidents around the nation in which animals such as pythons, crocodiles and giant salamanders have been found wandering loose, frequently on the streets of densely populated cities.

In one notorious case, a man lost track of his pet python after he took the animal "for a walk" in a park and the snake fled when the man fell asleep on a bench. He was quoted by one TV station as saying he was surprised the snake disappeared because it wasn't that kind of snake.

The Environment Ministry is drawing up a law that would require tiny cylindrical microchips -- 1 centimetre (0.4 inch) long and 2 millimetres (0.08 inch) in diameter -- implanted under the skin of some 650 animal species, a ministry official said.
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Read More / Source: Reuters

Oct 13, 2005, 05:16 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	Japan to require microchips for 'dangerous' animals TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is moving towards requiring owners of potentially dangerous animals, such as crocodiles and pythons, to have microchips implanted in their pets in case the animals get loose, officials said on Thursday. The move follows a recent wave of incidents around the nation in which animals such as pythons, crocodiles and giant salamanders have been found wandering loose, frequently on the streets of densely populated cities. In one notorious case, a man lost track of his pet python after he took the animal "for a walk" in a park and the snake fled when the man fell asleep on a bench. He was quoted by one TV station as saying he was surprised the snake disappeared because it wasn't that kind of snake. The Environment Ministry is drawing up a law that would require tiny cylindrical microchips -- 1 centimetre (0.4 inch) long and 2 millimetres (0.08 inch) in diameter -- implanted under the skin of some 650 animal species, a ministry official said. ____________ Read More / Source: Reuters