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PRINTER'S NO. 4561
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
1065
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY MALAGARI, GALLOWAY, BURNS, READSHAW, WILLIAMS,
KINSEY, SANCHEZ, MURT, WEBSTER AND HENNESSEY,
OCTOBER 19, 2020
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
OCTOBER 19, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing October 21, 2020, as "Reptile Awareness Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, According to Reptiles magazine, "Reptile Awareness
Day" is celebrated each year on October 21; and
WHEREAS, It is generally believed that "Reptile Awareness
Day" was founded not only as a means of celebration for reptile
lovers, but also to promote education, conservation, and
appreciation for reptiles; and
WHEREAS, "Reptile Awareness Day" is a day that promotes
learning about the natural habitats of reptiles and the
ecological threats that they face; and
WHEREAS, Reptiles, both captive and wild, face a variety of
threats and challenges, as reptiles rely on highly complex
environments; and
WHEREAS, As highly complex creatures, reptiles require
specific ranges of light relative to both temperature and
wavelength on a daily and seasonal basis; and
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WHEREAS, With the exception of fish, amphibians and reptiles
represent the oldest living vertebrate species in the world; and
WHEREAS, Like fish, amphibians and reptiles are ectothermic,
more commonly referred to as cold-blooded, which means that
their body temperature is not regulated internally, but rather
changes with the temperatures surrounding it; and
WHEREAS, According to Wild Welfare, an international animal
welfare organization, reptiles are dependent on a series of
environmental factors; and
WHEREAS, Specifically, reptiles rely on varying patterns of
microclimates relative to factors including humidity, seasonally
diverse diets and textural environments that consist of
distinctive physical characteristics; and
WHEREAS, Unfortunately, due to the complexity of their needs,
captive reptiles are often not provided with the proper care
that they require; and
WHEREAS, Another threat associated with captive reptiles or
those purchased through the pet trade is the unregulated or
under-regulated practice of wildlife trafficking, which can lead
to an unsustainable exploitation of wild populations; and
WHEREAS, Sadly, international efforts to stop wildlife
trafficking often do not focus on species deemed to be of
"lower-value," including those imported specifically for the pet
trade; and
WHEREAS, Beginning in the 1970s, international cooperation
began to bring greater awareness to wildlife trafficking through
the formation of the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species; and
WHEREAS, Species that are already placed under a multitude of
external influences are also experiencing life threatening
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impacts as a result of unsustainable human activities, which
have created a growing crisis relative to biodiversity that is
driven by climate change, habitat loss, invasive organisms,
pollution and illegal wildlife trafficking; and
WHEREAS, Federal and State legislation, including the Federal
Endangered Species Act, established a means through which
threatened and endangered species and ecosystems may be
conserved and protected; and
WHEREAS, In 1974 and 1978, legislation was enacted to provide
the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission with jurisdiction over
the Commonwealth's amphibian and reptile populations; and
WHEREAS, These legislative measures have been designed to
help prevent or, at the very least, help slow the rate of
extinction of threatened and endangered species; and
WHEREAS, Currently, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
considers the bog turtle, massasauga rattlesnake, Kirtland's
snake, rough green snake and eastern mud turtle to be endangered
reptile species in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission has listed the red-bellied turtle, Blanding's turtle,
broadhead skink and timber rattlesnake as reptiles deemed to be
threatened species; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize October
21, 2020, as "Reptile Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Commonwealth observe and promote "Reptile
Awareness Day" as a means of encouraging learning about the
natural habitats of reptiles and the ecological threats that
reptiles face, both here in the Commonwealth and throughout the
world.
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