Any turtle keepers in Tennessee?

[Wiggles92]

This went under the radar and was not picked up by USARK. There is no doubt that this was intentional. I agree that there was some third party behind this. Either PETA or HSUS.

Apparently they've been illegal in TN since 1977, or at least that's what USARK is saying on their Facebook page.

 

[chairman]

The regulations were written in 1977. However, there are provisions to allow for the issuing of permits to own them. From the news article, it looks like whomever is in charge of issuing those permits has decided not to issue new licenses and perhaps not renew existing licenses that lapse?

Interestingly, it looks like chelonians can still be kept if you are raising them for food. I guess if I lived in TN and was bothered by one of the rabbit cops of the TWRA I'd have to say that I was raising my sulcata up to 200 lbs for consumption in order to keep her.