Bill > S945

This bill establishes registration and reporting requirements for tiger owners in New Jersey to combat illegal trade, defining "tiger" as any animal of the species *Panthera tigris*. Owners must register their tigers with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), providing detailed information including the tiger's physical characteristics, location, and photographs, with annual updates required. A unique identification number will be assigned to each tiger, and owners will receive a certificate of registration. Within 30 days of registration, tigers must be implanted with a subcutaneous microchip containing the tiger's identification number and owner's information, unless the owner is an accredited zoo. The bill also outlines procedures for reporting changes in ownership or relocation, and mandates specific protocols for the disposal of deceased tigers, requiring the removal of microchips and submission of sworn affidavits to the DEP. Exemptions are provided for newborn tigers for the first 10 days and for licensed exhibitors temporarily possessing tigers under specific conditions. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection is tasked with creating a comprehensive registration and accounting system to monitor tigers and prevent their use in illegal trade, and violations of the act will be subject to penalties.