The state Department of Environmental Protection just announced it has teamed up with Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport for an ‘exotic animal amnesty day’ on July 25.

The announcement comes on the heels of recent news coverage about problems facing passage of a bill intended to ban a wide variety of exotic and potentially dangerous animals in the state.

That legislation was proposed in reaction to February’s chimpanzee attack in Stamford, but questions have arisen over what residents who own a banned pet are supposed to do with the pet should the bill pass the General Assembly and be signed into law by Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell.

‘We’ve been discussing it with Beardsley and got it organized and wanted to announce it,” DEP spokesman Denis Schain said. “Given the attention the issue has had, we thought it was a positive step and a good program to put in place.”

According to the DEP, the amnesty day will “provide a convenient, safe and ‘no questions asked’ way for people to bring in exotic animals they may own legally or in possible violation of state law.”

Mr Schain said the amnesty day will go forward regardless of whether the so-called “chimpanzee bill” passes because Connecticut under current law already prohibits possession of some animals, such as large cats, bears and primates (Travis, the Stamford chimp killed by police after mauling his owner’s friend, was grandfathered into the law).

Animals will become the property of DEP and, with the assistance of the zoo, provided to “suitable and safe homes.”

Similar initiatives have been successful elsewhere.