(CN) – The planner of an $8 million tiger habitat can’t bring Siberian tigers and other large cats into Idaho without getting them spayed or neutered, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled.
Peter Renzo and the SABRE Foundation challenged the decision of Idaho Department of Agriculture, which did not deny his possession permit but did impose the sterilization condition.
The 50-acre SABRE habitat was to include a 60-room hotel, a restaurant and a veterinary facility.
Renzo was also denied a propagation permit, which is usually reserved for zoos. Renzo never applied for the propagation permit, but the department stated its intent to deny the permit.
The trial court denied Renzo’s tort claim, and Justice Warren Jones of the Idaho Supreme Court affirmed the decision.
Jones noted the Renzo did not file his tort claim until 194 days after he learned that he would not receive a propagation permit. This was two weeks beyond time limit under the Idaho Tort Claims Act.
Jones also denied the Department’s request for attorney fees, ruling that Renzo did not file his claim in bad faith.
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